‘No moral way of describing this’: Winnipeg non-profits hit by crime

Winnipeg non-profits are being hit hard by escalating crime and theft. CTV’s Jeff Keele explains.

Non-profits in Winnipeg are reeling following a rash of thefts.

Someone climbed on top of the roof of the Urban Circle Training Centre, a non-profit, and stole the aluminum and copper condenser coils from eight of the air and heat units. They also hit one on the daycare next door.

“It’s unbelievable, like, there’s absolutely no moral way of describing this,” said Gary Swain, a student support worker at the Selkirk Avenue adult learning centre.

Swain said the units at the centre are damaged beyond repair and the replacement cost is more than $150,000.

“We can’t afford that and as far as I know at this moment, insurance is going to cover it but it’s going to make us hard to insure the building now,” Swain said.

They’re not the only non-profit dealing with crime on Selkirk Avenue.

Julia Khail, the store manager of the Selkirk MCC Furniture and Thrift Shop down the block, said they are also suffering.

“My first reaction is always frustration,” Khail said.

Khail said they are here to help low-income people in the neighbourhood afford clothes and furniture, but she’s not sure how long the store can afford to stay afloat because of chronic theft.

“It’s almost every single day,” Khail said. “If not every single day, every other day.”

It seems no one is immune to thefts in Winnipeg these days.

Homeowners have had their downspouts stolen, vehicles have been taken by a tow truck in the night, and this week Winnipeg police said a security guard was shot at during a robbery at the Unicity Walmart.

On Thursday, police also released information on a man arrested for stealing $10,000 worth of meat.

Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Max Waddell said most of these crimes are organized and for profit.

“I feel at times there is this misnomer out here that people are starving and they need this for survival, that is not the case,” Waddell said on Wednesday.

Swain said the crime on the rooftop was definitely professional.

“It’s not some guy with a shopping cart grabbing copper, they’re executing a team to do this type of work,” Swain said.