Saskatchewan RCMP have arrested and charged a man in connection to a string of break-ins across more than 40 communities over the past seven years.
According to an update from the police service issued Tuesday, Michael Arsenault, 57, has been charged with 62 counts of breaking and entering, 12 counts of attempting to break and enter with intent, and one count each of possession of property under and over $5,000.
Arsenault is scheduled to appear in Regina Provincial Court on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
In May 2025, RCMP launched a probe into a series of property crimes across the district. Investigators found 74 reported break-ins they believed were connected. The incidents occurred from September 2019 to February 2026 across a total of 43 communities — from Hudson Bay to Torquay.
The Town of Willow Bunch had its town office broken into on Jan. 28, 2021. Five years later, the town’s administrator Sharleine Eger said she still remembers the aftermath.
“It was my assistant, when she came to work she was the first to open up the cash boxes, and the safe room,” Eger explained.
“That shock of seeing everything empty. Every once in a while that creeps back into your head and you’re like ‘Is everything okay?’”
After speaking with police at the time of the incident, Eger said all signs showed the break and enter was far from unique to the town.
“Even before and after it happened to us, we saw different snippets on social media or on the news, telling about other communities’ experiences similar to ours and we always wondered is it the same person,” she said.
In a statement to CTV News, the Town of Foam Lake reported it was only aware of two of the four local buildings that were reportedly broken into.
Although no items of significance were taken, the town said it still cost the municipality a financial burden.
“I think what often gets overlooked in situations like this is that even when the financial loss is limited, the disruption can be considerable,” read the town’s statement.
“Small communities feel the impact in other ways, including damaged doors and locks, the need to replace hardware and rekey buildings, time spent reviewing footage and inventorying items, and the administrative burden of reporting and follow up. It creates strain on already limited local resources.”
According to RCMP, a total of $50,000 had been stolen. Other items taken included debit/credit cards, gift cards, alcohol and antique coins.
The types of buildings targeted included local businesses, town offices, post offices, and community centres. RCMP noted it was not aware of any homes being broken into.
“At the core of this investigation are the communities who have been impacted. This may not be a violent crime, but it’s a crime that is extremely damaging to those communities who lost valuables and funds and felt their safety has been compromised,” Insp. Jillian McLaren, Saskatchewan RCMP South District Operations Officer, said in the update.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work done by our team for working together, connecting the dots, laying charges, and restoring a sense of security for these communities.”
Since the break-in, Eger said the Town of Willow Bunch has increased its security systems in hopes of preventing similar situations.
“When you have a small town mentality you’re always concerned about the cost right, or you tend to be more reactive than proactive. Why fix what isn’t broken if things are working, leave it as such, right?” she said.
“But in today’s world I think it is really something that everybody has to start considering and putting those safeguards into place.”
McLaren also encourages businesses and town offices to be cautious.
“We can’t speculate why these facilities were targeted. What we can say that is property crime is a crime of opportunity though,” McLaren told reporters on Tuesday.
“We really are encouraging folks to follow, some things and that’s ensuring that their properties are locked, that windows are locked now to make sure things are out of sight, especially for businesses. When we talk about businesses that have keys associated, things of value, are were put away, and also businesses really limiting the cash that they’re keeping on site.”
The list of affected communities include:
- September 6, 2019 – Briercrest, SK – three public buildings
- October 24, 2019 – Lipton, SK – one public building
- October 31, 2019 – Cupar, SK – two public buildings
- November 7, 2019 – Spy Hill, SK – two public buildings
- November 14, 2019 – Qu’Appelle, SK - one public building
- December 5, 2019 – Torquay, SK - three public buildings
- June 12, 2020 – Sceptre, SK – one public building
- July 10, 2020 – Val Marie, SK – one public building
- July 29, 2020 – Imperial, SK – three public buildings
- September 30, 2020 – Griffin, SK – two public buildings
- November 25, 2020 – Rush Lake, SK – one public building
- November 30, 2020 – Muenster, SK – one public building
- November 30, 2020 – Lake Lenore, SK – two public buildings
- January 8, 2021 – Archerwill, SK – one public building
- January 28, 2021 – Willow Bunch, SK – two public buildings
- March 13, 2021 – Radville, SK – two public buildings
- April 16, 2021 – Loreburn, SK – four public buildings
- October 15, 2021 – Wood Mountain, SK – one public building
- March 19, 2022 – Glenbain, SK – one public building
- May 20, 2022 – Parkbeg, SK – one public building
- June 17, 2022 – Cedoux, SK – one public building
- August 12, 2022 – Watrous, SK – one public building
- September 6, 2022 – Consul, SK – one public building
- September 28, 2022 – Humboldt, SK – one public building
- March 31, 2023 – Lampman, SK – one public building
- April 26, 2023 – Vanguard, SK – three public buildings
- June 29, 2026 – Eatonia, SK – one public building
- June 27, 2024 – Manitou Beach, SK – one public building
- July 11, 2024 – Herschel, SK – one public building
- August 2, 2024 – Rama, SK – one public building
- January 10, 2025 – Wadena, SK – one public building
- March 31, 2025 – Okla, SK – one public building
- March 31, 2025 – Preeceville, SK – one public building
- April 1, 2025 – Canora, SK – two public buildings
- April 2, 2025 – Foam Lake, SK – four public buildings
- May 9, 2025 – Carlyle, SK – three public buildings
- June 2, 2025 – Eston, SK – four public buildings
- July 1, 2025 – Hudson Bay, SK – one public building
- September 13, 2025 – Whitewood, SK – one public building
- October 29, 2025 – Biggar, SK – three public buildings
- December 16, 2025 – Theodore, SK – one public building
- January 19, 2026 – Beechy, SK – one public building
- February 6, 2026 – Wynyard, SK – one public building
