A number of rural Manitoba farmers left shaken after string of armed robberies

A string of armed robberies has left farmers in rural Manitoba shaken, with three properties targeted in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Security footage that surfaced online and was later shared with CityNews shows masked individuals, some armed with rifles, stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment, including power tools, ATVs, and even a truck.

“It’s definitely getting out of hand, and everyone is scared, and it looks like an escalation,” said Manitoba farmer Mark Klippenstein.

Klippenstein says the robbery at his farm was a terrifying scene, with armed suspects entering his yard, pointing guns at his house and garage, before fleeing with thousands of dollars in tools.

“We have to pay out of pocket to remedy that and replace our tools and vehicles and your insurance premium goes up if you make a claim,” he said. 

Just a few kilometres away, farmer Dean Toews says it happened to him as well.

He says this is the seventh time his property has been targeted, but this latest robbery also included suspects wielding firearms. Toews says the use of guns adds a disturbing new element to the ongoing crime spree in the area. 

“No one wants to be threatened on their own property,” he said.

In the incident that happened at his farm Sunday, one of the farmers at the property tried to confront one of the alleged suspects but didn’t realize his life may have been at risk. 

“The farmer at the time that gave chase, didn’t know at the time there were guns involved,” he said, saying it “definitely heightened” the danger.

In response, the province announced a $3.3 million investment Tuesday that will add nine new full-time members to the RCMP Emergency Response Team.

“What this unit will do will be to add that next level of support law enforcement desperately needs and the impact will make our community safer,” Minister of Justice, Matt Wiebe. 

Although Wiebe says this investment builds on efforts to combat rural crime, including funding for increases in urban policing, a five-point plan for repeat offenders, and the creation of new justice initiatives, the opposition Progressive Conservatives say it’s not enough. 

“This isn’t going to help what’s going on right now in rural Manitoba,” said Jodie Byram, MLA for Agassiz with the PCs. “So again, they are going to be going to bed in fear tonight. It’s not the immediate solution.”

Farmers like Klippenstein agree, saying there’s few repercussions for alleged criminals. 

“There’s no deterrent. No consequences,” he said. 

Others, like Toews, hope the introduction of new Mounties offers a solution. 

“More RCMP would help. Their times coming to the farms are slow, like an hour,” he said. “A lot of things can happen in an hour.” 

A 17-year-old woman from the Sandy Bay First Nation has been arrested in connection to the crimes, however, police believe there are other suspects. 

RCMP are asking the public to report suspicious activity and say the investigation is ongoing.