Man charged after string of break-ins across southern Saskatchewan

A Regina man has been charged with dozens of break-ins affecting communities across southern Saskatchewan, including Eston and other West Central areas, the Saskatchewan RCMP say.

Investigators with the RCMP’s South District Investigative Team say they identified 74 break-in reports in 43 communities between September 2019 and February 2026, prompting a lengthy probe into the pattern of property crimes.

Fifty-seven-year-old Michael Arsenault faces 76 charges including 62 counts of breaking and entering and 12 counts of attempted break-in. He is also charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime. Arsenault was scheduled to appear in Regina Provincial Court on Feb. 18.

RCMP say the suspect is believed to have stolen about $50,000 in cash, along with debit and credit cards, gift cards, alcohol, antique coins and other items. Targeted properties included local businesses, community halls, post offices and town offices — although no residences are believed to have been broken into.

“At the core of this investigation are the communities who have been impacted,” said Inspector Jillian McLaren, South District operations officer. “This may not be a violent crime, but it’s crime that is extremely damaging to those communities who lost valuables and funds and felt their safety has been compromised.”

Among the list of affected communities are Eston, where four public buildings were targeted on June 2, 2025; Foam Lake (four buildings); Canora (two buildings); and Preeceville and Okla (one each). Other towns included in the investigation range from Hudson Bay to Whitewood, Biggar, Beechy and Wynyard.

RCMP are urging anyone with information, or anyone who may have been a victim of a break-in during the period who has not yet reported it, to contact police at 310-RCMP or use the RCMP’s online crime reporting tool. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.