Winnipeg 'crime-ridden': Maclean's

Maclean's calls Winnipeg one of Canada's most crime-ridden cities in the magazine's annual report that compares crime rates across Canada.

Winnipeg comes in third for crime rates, behind Regina and Saskatoon.

The rankings are based on 2006 per capita crime rates from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, according to a Maclean's press release.

The town of Caledon, Ont., about 40 kilometres northwest of Toronto, is called the safest community in the country.

The rankings are based on rates per 100,000 population for homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, robbery and breaking and entering.

Winnipeg politicians, police officers, and criminologists react to the city's ranking in tomorrow's Winnipeg Free Press.

The magazine hits newstands today.

Two stabbed on Maryland Street

Two people were stabbed early today in the 600 block of Maryland Street.

A 30-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman are in stable condition in hospital.

The man was stabbed in the upper and lower body. The woman was wounded in her upper body, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Boys Charged in Violent Home Invasion

Three teenage boys have been charged in connection with a violent home invasion on Alexander Avenue that left a man in hospital in critical condition. Police allege two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old broke into a 58-year-old man's home just before 4 a.m. Saturday [March 1, 2008], stabbed him in the upper body with a weapon and ransacked the place.

Woman sent to hospital after downtown stabbing

Winnipeg police are investigating a downtown stabbing that sent one woman to hospital early Sunday evening.

Police said a woman was stabbed in the 200 block of Garry Street shortly after 7 p.m. Police cordoned off a parking lot behind 279 Garry St. — home of the Sonar night club — where the stabbing occurred.

Police are releasing few details about the incident, including the woman’s age and condition.

The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Winnipeg: A crime snapshot

Some highlights:

"The information creates a picture of crimes scattered across the city, with volcanic peaks in three key areas: the downtown core, the North End, and the Osborne area."

"...if you don't mind your store being robbed or broken into, then there's nothing to worry about."

"Our advice to residents of the north end: Don't hide your life savings under the mattress, or even in the mattress for that matter. In five months there were 679 break and enters, and the vast majority were residential."

"...areas like the Maples, Garden City, and Tyndall Park still have a substantial number of residential break-ins, stolen cars, and robberies."

"Businesses at Henderson (opposite Whellams Lane), Henderson and Leighton, Watt and Kimberley, London and Munroe, Gateway and McLeod, Rothesay and Springfield were all robbed at least five times in five months."

"Was the holiday season jolly? Yes, for a car thief. Actual and attempted vehicle thefts skyrocketed between Dec. 24 and 30. This week alone saw 166 infractions compared to only 13 in the same district one month earlier."

Read the full report for all the feel-good details!

Another Stabbing and Some Typical Winter Weather

Woman sent to hospital after downtown stabbing

Winnipeg police are investigating a downtown stabbing that sent one woman to hospital early this evening.

Police said a woman was stabbed in the 200 block of Garry Street shortly after 7 p.m. Police cordoned off a parking lot behind 279 Garry St. — home of the Sonar night club — where the stabbing occurred.

Police are releasing few details about the incident, including the woman’s age and condition.

The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Vehicle rollovers, accidents across province

RCMP are reminding motorists to slow down in winter weather after multiple vehicles slid off ice-covered highways Sunday.

RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish said there were vehicle rollovers and accidents across several main provincial highways Sunday, including Highway 44, Highway 8 and Highway 9.

Early today, Manitoba Transportation advised drivers that travel was not advised on the Perimeter Highway and parts of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Headingley because of blowing snow and reduced visibility.

Most provincial highways were ice-covered and slippery, Karpish said, and motorists were not heeding travel advisories.

“The roads are slippery and people are driving too fast for the conditions,” Karpish said, noting RCMP issued a similar warning a few days ago.

Shortly before 8 p.m. tonight, a three-vehicle crash occurred on Highway 9 south of the Wal-Mart near Selkirk.

A single vehicle towing snowmobiles rolled into a ditch south of Northumberland Road on Highway 8. Near Oakbank, a single vehicle rolled into the ditch, and a vehicle that stopped to help was rear-ended by another car.

Karpish said a vehicle lost control while passing another vehicle and rolled into a ditch east of Highway 59.

As of 9 p.m. tonight, Karpish said there were no serious injuries reported.

However, she warned that the public needs to slow down or stay home in treacherous weather to ensure no one is killed.

“The general public needs to realize (this) before someone gets killed,” Karpish said.

Three stabbings reported in two hours

There were three separate stabbings reported in the city today in the space of two hours, police report.

None of the stabbings resulted in life-threatening injuries, said Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.

A stabbing on Alfred Avenue. was reported just after 5:30 a.m., said Michalyshen.

A stabbing just after 7 a.m. appeared to be the result of a dispute between two women in a St. Johns Avenue. residence, he said, resulting in minor injuries.

Michalyshen confirmed a man on Spence Street reported being stabbed just after 7:30 a.m., but said no details on the incident are yet available.