Winnipeg shop owner 'very upset' after garage, vehicle destroyed in fire police say was arson
23-year-old woman accused of setting March 22 fire, along with a dozen break-ins in same area
An ice-cream shop owner in northeast Winnipeg said he's got video footage showing a person breaking into his garage, which police say was destroyed by fire shortly after — one of a dozen break-ins they say was committed by the same person.
On March 22, about $500 in property was stolen from the detached garage outside Sky Sundae on Ottawa Avenue, in the East Kildonan area. A few hours later, the structure was set on fire, causing more than $60,000 in damage to the structure and a 2023 Hyundai Tucson parked inside, Winnipeg police said in a Wednesday news release.
Sung An, who has owned Sky Sundae for the past three years, said his shop's security camera footage showed a woman jumping over the fence and breaking into the garage. He said she stayed there for about two hours before the fire started.
An said he had only had the vehicle for three years. He has filed an insurance claim but he says he doesn't know when the car will be replaced.
"I'm very upset," An said.
A 23-year-old woman is facing several charges in connection with that break-in, and 11 others at homes and garages in an area just east of Henderson Highway between March 13 and 31, police said Wednesday.
She has also been charged with arson in connection with the garage fire.
More than $12,000 in property was stolen during the break-ins, and the other homeowners, all located within a short distance of each other, are still assessing the damage, police said.
Police said a first break-in on March 13 was followed by six others on March 20.
The 23-year-old Winnipeg woman was arrested on March 31, following four more break-ins in the same area over a 45-minute span just after midnight, police say.
An said he didn't know about the other break-ins.
Neighbour Bernie Lemanski told CBC he was lying on his couch on the night of the fire when he heard a loud boom around 8:30 p.m.
"That explosion rocked my house," Lemanski said.
He ran outside to take a video of the fire and said he saw a woman running down the back lane. He took a picture of the woman and shared her photo on social media, he says.
Winnipeg Police Service Const. Stephen Spencer says information shared by community members on Facebook helped police make the arrest.
"The community has been very helpful," Spencer says. "It really comes down to the community reporting these incidents."
To protect against break-ins, Spencer says homeowners should always lock their windows and doors, and ensure the outside areas around homes and garages are well lit.
WATCH | Fire destroys garage on March 22:
With files from Zubina Ahmed