Project Payday Parks Three Suspects in Jail

A woman and two men are facing dozens of charges for literally knocking over banking machines and robbing houses, leaving a swath of destruction stretching from Winnipeg to Lac du Bonnet.

The arrests, announced today by the Winnipeg Police, are the product of an operation called Project Payday.  The investigation was launched after similarities were noticed in a series of commercial break-ins and crimes happening in Winnipeg, Selkirk and Lac du Bonnet between June of last year and August 2017.

In several cases, large amounts of cash were stolen by attacking Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).  Police estimate a total of around $60,000 in cash was taken and the damage tally reaches around the same amount again.

The pattern showed thieves would get into a business by damaging a door or window, and once inside, they’d hook a tow rope to the ATM inside and dragging it out of the place.

Suspects often disguised their appearance with masks, and their targets also included a number of residential properties.  Places that were hit include a:

• Lac du Bonnet residence on Fairway Dr.;
• Manitoba Ave. restaurant in Selkirk (ATM);
• grocery store on Reenders Dr. (ATM);
• rental dealership in the 1600 block of Inkster Blvd.;
• business in the 1000 block of Ellice Ave. (ATM);
• hotel in the 1000 of McPhillips St. (ATM);
• ATM, 2100 block of McPhillips St.;
• restaurant in the 400 block of Oak Point Hwy (ATM);
• 4 residences in the RM of Lac du Bonnet;
• residential vacation development in Lac du Bonnet area (14 break-ins);
• Whellems Lane ATM

On Monday, police arrested Arlene Nancy Kehler, 34, at her residence in Winnipeg; Sean Alexander Morgan, 30, at the provincial Remand Centre, and Jesse Patrick Morgan, 33, at his place in Lac du Bonnet.  All three were detained in custody.

Sean Morgan is charged for his alleged involvement with:
– break, enter and theft x 27;
– disguise with intent x 6;
– possess goods obtained by crime under $5000;
– assault;
– utter threats;
– disobey court order x 2; and
– fail to comply with recognizance x 7.

Jesse Morgan faces single charges for his alleged involvement for:
– break, enter and theft;
– wear disguise with intent; and
– utter threats.

Arlene Kehler will be in court facing charges for her alleged involvement of:
– break, enter & theft x16;
– disguise with intent; and
– possess goods obtained by crime x 2.