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Police say a 12-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys are among a group of males allegedly responsible for three home invasions and other incidents during an 11-day crime spree in Winnipeg this month.
One house in the city’s North End was broken into, robbed and ransacked twice, said city police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.
Michalyshen said the suspects "knew of" and have some kind of association to the homes.
The rash of crimes began when four males broke into an occupied home in the 300 block of Aberdeen Avenue on Dec. 10 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., Michalyshen said.
Once inside, the suspects ransacked the place, stole prescription medication and swiped a piece of jewelry from a resident, who was physically assaulted to the upper body during the terrifying ordeal, police said.
The suspects fled but one of them returned Dec. 16 and smashed out a window, police said.
The same day at 4 p.m., one of the males stole a vehicle from a gas bar in the 100 block of Salter Street and was involved in a hit-and-run with a vehicle in Tuxedo, police said.
On Sunday at 3:30 a.m., three suspects broke into a house in the 100 block of Machray Avenue and confronted three residents. One suspect was armed with a machete and replica firearm, police said.
One victim was assaulted to the upper and lower body before the suspects stole electronics and fled in the previously-stolen vehicle, Michalyshen said.
About three hours later, the males returned to the Aberdeen Avenue home, where they broke in, confronted three residents and ransacked the interior, Michalyshen said.
One suspect was armed with a machete while a second was armed with a replica firearm, police said.
Again, the suspects stole electronics and fled in the stolen vehicle.
An investigation by the major crimes unit, which was assisted by the street crime unit, led to the arrest of five males, aged 12, 14 (two), 17 and 18, Michalyshen said.
All five are in custody.