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Winnipeg police tackle case of the missing house

Last Updated: Saturday, July 14, 2007 | 7:07 PM CT

CBC News

A Winnipeg man has been charged with theft after a home in the city's West End area disappeared into a pile of rubble.

Joe Meconse moved into an apartment building on Toronto Street, in the city's West End neighbourhood last year. He remembers the owner showing off the building's amenities.

'Next time he came around to the residence, it had been demolished."— Const. Jacqueline Chaput

"The owner showed me this building here and he said he bought this house and it was going to be torn down and put into a parking lot," he said.

That's just what happened — but the man who tore down the house didn't own it, police said Friday.

The suspect contacted the owner in May 2006 and made enquiries about buying the property, police said. But before the sale was negotiated, the tenants renting the house were evicted and the building was razed.

"The owner of this residence lives out of province, so he was not aware of the actions of the suspect in this matter," said Const. Jacqueline Chaput. "He hadn't received payment for the rent … the [utility] meters were disconnected. He started making some inquiries, and next time he came around to the residence, it had been demolished."

The assessed value of the home was $21,000.

Police have charged a 36-year-old man, whose name was not released, with theft over $5,000 and mischief over $5,000. He was released from custody on a promise to appear.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Video

Mychaylo Prystupa reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 1:52): Play: QuickTime »; Play: Real Media »

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