Saskatchewan RCMP officers in partnership with the Regina Police Service are investigating a number of recent break-ins in rural areas near the province’s capital.
On December 31st, White Butte RCMP were told of a break-in at a home outside of Pilot Butte. where a firearm safe which had firearms inside was stolen and an SUV. The vehicle was recovered later that day, but it had been set on fire.

Two days later, officers responded to a break-in at a commercial building in the RM of Edenwold. Police say an individual approached in a vehicle, which had been reported stolen to Regina Police Service, and was also one of the vehicles suspected to be involved in the Pilot Butte break-in. A number of items were stolen including a snowmobile, which the individual took off in, and left the stolen truck behind, along with other items, including pieces of stolen identification and an illegally modified gun.

The next day, officers received a report involving the suspected stolen snowmobile on Highway 46 east of Regina. A man was arrested without incident. Police say items reported from the commercial property were found near the scene.

Two search warrants were executed at homes in Regina and a second man was arrested. It’s alleged that one of the seized items was the gun safe reported stolen from the Pilot Butte area home. Thirty-one year old Justin McDonald is facing ten charges including possession of property obtained by crime, break and enter and theft, vehicle theft, and numerous firearms-related charges. Twenty-eight year old Monty Bear’s five charges include possession of property obtained by crime over 45,000 and possessing identity documents of another person.