It happened at the Grand Palms RV Resort near Grand Beach Tuesday evening. “Just senseless destruction and devastation to our tight-knit community,” said Steve Graham, whose camper was among those hit. “They hit pretty much every street. There (were) campers all broken in. All of our stuff was thrown around, all piled out in piles along the streets, most likely for them to come back and pick up.” Graham said the door to his camper was pried open and the entire RV was trashed. “Brand new camper just got it last year, and they destroyed it. They ransacked the entire thing,” he said, noting he’s been left with about $6,000 in damages. “That was just my camper. Other campers were hit harder.” Manitoba RCMP confirmed it received a report of a break-and-enter at the resort Tuesday around 6:15 p.m. “Officers reviewed video surveillance and observed one suspect wearing a mask and gloves,” police said in an email to CTV News, adding that no suspect has been identified. Grand Palms general manager Jen Krahn said 23 sites were left with extensive damage and several more with minor intrusions. She said the park is the largest privately owned RV resort in Manitoba with more than 400 sites. It’s a bustling community in the summer, but closes up in the fall. “We understand from the RCMP that we are in a very vulnerable season before the snow flies, because then there are no footprints,” Krahn told CTV News. “So we definitely were targeted, and it has been an absolute violation of our members, and traumatic and very difficult for all of us.” Krahn said the resort is now doing a full-site assessment and is looking to beef up security. She said management is working to support those impacted. “Our message is very clear, as it always is. Our Grand Palm members are so near and dear to our heart,” she said. “This is our home away from home, and we will do everything as we always do to take care of them and to be here with them, and we’re here to support them.” Graham said this tight-knit community is banding together and checking on each other’s properties as they pick up the pieces. “We’re a big family out there, and when stuff hits like this, it hits all of us,” he said. RCMP is asking people to report any property crime even if nothing was stolen or damaged, noting timely and accurate information supports a thorough investigation. Krahn confirmed police are asking impacted campers to make individual reports. “The more evidence we have, the more chance we have of putting these guys away,” she said. “So what I’ve been told is every camper is to make their own claim at the moment and stay tuned.” Krahn is asking anyone with information or camera footage of the break-ins to reach out.
