3 children accused of causing $150K in damage at Red Deer modular home business

Mounties have taken three young boys into custody after they allegedly caused more than $150,000 in damage to modular homes at a Red Deer, Alta., business Thursday.

Police said they responded to Best Buy Homes at 7898 50th Avenue just before 6 p.m. after a report that childrenwere vandalizing homes with steel pipes.

Cabinets, windows, appliances smashed

They found two 11-year-old boys and a seven-year-old who were allegedly smashing windows, cabinets, appliances, walls and light fixtures of four modular homes.

"Under the Criminal Code of Canada, children under 12 cannot be charged for criminal offences, so this is a situation where the Youth Intervention Unit will step in and work with all parties toward a resolution using restorative justice methods," said Const. Derek Turner of the Red Deer RCMP in a release.

"This was a serious incident with significant impact to thebusiness and its clients. Civil action remains an option for the business, but the RCMP role will be to work with the children, their families and the business to come to a resolution that supports all parties while teaching the children that there are consequences to their actions."

Mounties said they spoke to the parents of all three children and theyouth intervention team has contacted the business owner and will be following up with families.

'Everything is damaged'

Randy Willie, a salesman for Best Buy Homes, said he can't believe the extent of the damage.

Willie said the company hasn't heard from the children's parents or guardians.

"Everything is damaged and wrecked by children under the age of 12, which seems almost impossible," he said.

Willie wonders where their caregivers were and how the kids could possibly have this kind of anger and disrespect for society at such a young age.

Due to the ages of the boys, RCMP said they wouldn't be offering any details or updates.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Erosion prompts closure of historic Abbot Pass Hut on Alberta-B.C. border
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Forest fire prompts 'precautionary' evacuation alert for Castle Mountain Resort, Pincher Creek area
• Read more articles byCBC Calgary, like us onFacebookfor updates and subscribe to ourCBC Calgary newsletterfor the day's news at a glance

With a file from The Canadian Press