Several items were stolen after a break-in at a Winnipeg community centre

The Winnipeg Community Center was left to deal with the aftermath of the break-in, which resulted in the theft of a number of items, including a pitching machine.

Carmel Remillard, executive assistant at the Norberry-Glenlee Community Center, said on the morning of May 17 there was a break in one of the cages located on Worthington Avenue.

“Everything was stolen from there,” Remillard said. He said someone had cut a hole in the fence surrounding the cage, and once they were inside, they took everything they could get their hands on, from poles and hammers to baseball bases and measuring tapes.

The most damaged item in the theft was the pitching machine.

“It's over $2,000 to replace them, I think closer to $3,000. So yeah, it's not good.”

He said a number of baseball teams use the gridiron, and ultimately, they are the ones with the most impact.

“Children suffer because of this. Until we replace the equipment, they will have to share to use it or reschedule.”

This is not the first time that the community center is dealing with such a situation. Remillard said their trailer was stolen in the past, and their air conditioner was damaged for the copper wire inside.

As he continues to deal with situations like this, he said it's frustrating.

“We're very lucky that we're not poor here. We're a medium-sized community center. A lot of small community centers don't have the money to replace things like this … it's sad, but it's true, unfortunately, and it's all over the city.”

Remillard said he filed a police report and contacted the city.

With the hole in the fence expected to be repaired this week, Remillard hopes he won't have to deal with something like this again anytime soon.