Man charged in 28 break-ins after police see him pushing shopping cart with stolen cabinet

A man police believe is responsible for numerous break-ins in Winnipeg's North End was nabbed while pushing a shopping cart loaded with a stolen cabinet.

Police say the break-in spree went from Nov. 24 until Dec.9.

Officers had targetted the area with increased patrols due to the high number of break-ins and around5 a.m. on Sunday, they saw a man pushing a cart with a metal cabinet in it near Flora Avenue andAikinsStreet.

The cabinet had been taken during a break-in at aconvenience store on Dufferin Avenue,but the man gave officers a false name and a story to avoid arrest, police said.

"He tried to feed us a story that it was scrap metal he found, but [officers] determined it came from that break-and-enter minutes earlier," Const. Jay Murray said.

A 46-year-old man was charged with that break-in as well as break-ins at the following locations (some more than once):

• A food store in the 300 block of Manitoba Avenue.
• A food store in the 400block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A food store in the 400block of Selkirk Avenue (twice).
• A food store in the 200block of Salter Street (three times).
• A convenience store in the 300block of Mountain Avenue.
• A gas station in the 100block of Salter Street.
• A food store in the 400block of Burrows Avenue (four times)
• A food store in the 500block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A convenience store in the 400block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A restaurant in the 400block of Aberdeen Avenue.
• A medical clinic in the 400block of Selkirk (twice).
• A food store in the 500block of Dufferin Avenue.
• A medical clinic in the 500block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A food store in the 300block of Selkirk Avenue (twice).
• A convenience store in the 300block of Selkirk Avenue (twice).
• A food store in the 400block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A clothing store in the 500block of Selkirk Avenue.
• A convenience store in the 500block of Manitoba Avenue.

During each break-in, the person causeddamage by forcing a way inside, then stole various items, such as food, merchandise and sometimes cash, police said.

The 46-year-old man is charged with 28 counts ofbreak and enter as well as resisting a peace officer.