Investigators with the Property Crime Unit have arrested 35-year-old Christopher SAWATZKY in connection with a series of rooftop Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) thefts that resulted in approximately $500,000 in damage to local businesses and churches.
Between January 22 and March 9, 2026, numerous HVAC units across the City of Winnipeg were damaged, with metal components stripped and stolen.
- January 22 – 200 block of Niverville Avenue: approximately $16,000 in damage
- January 25 – 2100 block of Main Street: approximately $79,000 in damage
- January 27 – 700 block of Broadway Avenue: approximately $60,000 in damage
- January 29 – 800 block of Mcleod Avenue: approximately $6,000 in damage
- January 31 – 200 block of St. Mary’s Road: approximately $1,800 in damage
- February 13 – 0-100 block of Keslar Road: approximately $25,000 in damage
- February 14 – 100 block of Cordite Road: approximately $25,000 in damage
- February 17 – 900 block of Mcleod Avenue: approximately $38,000 in damage
- February 18 – 800 block of Mcleod Avenue: approximately $3,000 in damage
- February 19 – 0-100 block of Scurfield Boulevard: approximately $15,000 in damage
- February 19 – 0-100 block of Scurfield Boulevard: approximately $25,000 in damage
- February 23 – 900 block of St. Anne’s Road: approximately $18,000 in damage
- February 24: – 1600 block of St. Mary’s Road: approximately $37,000 in damage
- February 28 – 1300 block of Gateway Road: approximately $150,000 in damage
On February 6, a 2011 Honda CRV was stolen from the 700 block of Sherbrook Avenue, which was used during several of the above incidents to facilitate the thefts.
The Property Crime Unit assumed the investigation and identified SAWATZKY as a suspect. Investigators also learned that SAWATZKY attended to metal scrap yards in and around Winnipeg on at least twenty-eight occasions to sell the stolen metal.
On April 6, at 5:43 p.m., SAWATZKY was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in St. Andrews, Manitoba, on an outstanding arrest warrant and turned over to Property Crime investigators.
SAWATZKY has been charged with:
- Theft Over $5000 x 12
- Mischief Over $5,000 x 12
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 x 2
- Theft Under $5000 x 2
- Mischief Under $5,000/Obstruct in Enjoyment x 2
- Warrant – Assault by Choking, Suffocating or Strangling
- Warrant – Uttering Threats - Cause Death or Bodily Harm
- Warrant – Fail to Comply with Condition of Undertaking
SAWATZKY was detained in custody.