A brazen attack on a man who confronted two thieves in Lester Beach has put cabin owners on edge.
It's the second violent incident involving break-ins in cottage country on the east shores of Lake Winnipeg in recent months.
Area residents often see a spike in crime in the fall as people close up their cabins and they say these recent incidents highlight the need for more police patrols in the area.
RCMP said the Lester Beach attack happened on September 2, at around 10:30 at night.
RCMP said the man confronted two suspects in his yard who were attempting to steal his wife's truck. When the man confronted the suspects, one of the suspects hit the man in the head with a shovel. The man went to hospital, received six stitches and was released from hospital the same night.
CTV News contacted the victim who confirmed the incident. The victim did not want to appear on camera and asked not to be identified.
In August, there was a similar incident in nearby Traverse Bay.
Bill McCluskey chased down two suspects who were attempting to steal his car.
McCluskey said his arm was cut by a weapon in the struggle to get control of the vehicle from the suspects who had already made off with the vehicle and were attempting to break into other nearby cabins. The thieves in that incident ran away after the altercation in which McCluskey got his car back.
Don Sullivan, who lives in Lester Beach year-round, said when summer ends thieves often target cabins when nobody is home.
Barb Sever, who also lives in Lester Beach, said the attack earlier this month is alarming because the thieves targeted cabins when the owners were home.
"It's getting worse all the time," said Sever.
Sever and Sullivan would like to see more RCMP patrols in the area.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Bert Paquet said, "in a perfect world more officers would be able to do preventative or routine patrols on a regular basis."
Sgt. Paquet said the RCMP tries to deploy its officers to meet the needs of residents in cottage country.
"While this is something we try to do, the area offers challenges that are unique and differ from one season to the next," he said.
RCMP suggest if you are leaving your cabin unattended, do not to leave valuables inside.
"If you leave valuables in an unattended and isolated place, it is likely they will get stolen," said Sgt. Paquet.
Sgt. Paquet also said not to confront suspects because it's not worth the risk.
He said if you're going to be away from your cabin it's a good idea to have someone check on it.
RCMP said the suspects are described as a white man about 6'2 (188 cm), heavier build, with a blue shirt or black golf shirt and blue jeans with long hair.
The other suspect was a smaller man than the first one wearing a black hoody.
RCMP are still investigating.
