The Garden Hill First Nation water treatment plant, located about 475 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, experienced an overnight break-in on April 29, said Manitoba RCMP.
Damage was caused to some of the Island Lake area plant’s machinery, “rendering it inoperable,” said RCMP in a statement. Approximately $100,000 in plant power tools were also stolen from the facility.
The Canadian Red Cross has indicated that it will supply water to the community while local officials investigate any potential impacts to the water supply.
As a precaution, some patients undergoing treatment were temporarily relocated.
On April 30, authorities arrested three males without incident in connection with the break-in. Island Lake RCMP with the assistance of Manitoba RCMP North District Forensic Investigative Services and Manitoba RCMP North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Team (CREST) led the investigation.
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Search warrants were executed at two separate residences in the community where tools were located and seized, the Island Lake RCMP stated.
The suspects are between 18 and 53 years of age and face a series of charges that range from breaking and entering to theft and possession of property obtained by crime.
In Winnipeg, during the fall of 2023, a man caused more than $1 million in damage to five buildings at the city’s Deacon Reservoir water treatment plant when he stole an excavator. He also damaged municipal backhoes, skid steers and several employee vehicles.
