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RCMP Update: Second Suspect Charged in Western Bay Break-ins

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RCMP investigation into multiple Western Bay Newfoundland and Labrador break and enters with firearms-related charges

RCMP investigators lay additional charges in a series of Western Bay break and enters involving stolen firearms.

RCMP Update: Second Suspect Charged in Western Bay Break-ins

RCMP East District General Investigation Section (GIS) has charged a second individual in connection with a series of break and enters in the Western Bay area of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thirty-year-old Sarah Mitchell, from St. John’s, now faces a total of 26 Criminal Code charges tied to these incidents, which include break and enter, mischief, and multiple firearms-related offences.

The investigation intensified after a concerned resident contacted Trinity-Conception District RCMP shortly after 12:00 p.m. on April 19, 2026, reporting two suspicious people walking along Western Bay Line. Since then, investigators have linked nine break and enter files in the area to the same suspects. One man, Justin Maxwell Murphy, age 39, was previously charged with 27 offences and remains in custody, while Mitchell was arrested on April 28, 2026 and is scheduled to appear in Harbour Grace provincial court today.

Official RCMP Details

According to police, the East District GIS has connected nine residential break and enters in the Western Bay area to this investigation. These offences occurred around April 18–19, 2026, and are alleged to involve both property damage and stolen items, including firearms.

On April 28, 2026, officers arrested 30-year-old Sarah Mitchell of St. John’s and charged her with the following Criminal Code offences for her alleged role in the break and enters:

Police confirm that Justin Maxwell Murphy, 39, was charged earlier with 27 Criminal Code offences related to the same investigation and is currently in custody. The file is being pursued in collaboration with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC), and investigators indicate that additional charges are expected as the work continues.

Request for Public Assistance

Residents, especially those with seasonal or recreational properties in and around Western Bay, are urged to physically check their homes, cabins, sheds, and storage buildings. If you discover any signs of a break-in, attempted break-in, damage, or missing property from around April 18–19, 2026, you are asked to contact police.

Anyone who has surveillance footage, dash cam video, or who observed suspicious people or vehicles in the Western Bay area during that time frame should share this information with investigators. Even small details can help confirm timelines and recover stolen property, including firearms.

To contact police directly:

To provide information anonymously:

This case highlights how public reporting of suspicious behaviour can support police investigations, a pattern seen in property crime trends across Canada. Communities that stay informed about local crime, and compare their situation to other regions using tools like municipal crime statistics and safety data, are often better prepared to prevent repeat offences and help recover stolen items.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this alert underscores the serious risk that break and enters – especially those involving firearms – pose to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. When guns are stolen during property crimes, they can quickly move into other criminal activities, escalating the danger for residents and first responders. Seasonal communities are particularly vulnerable, as empty properties can be targeted over concentrated time frames.

We encourage property owners in Western Bay and surrounding areas to document their valuables, secure firearms in compliant storage, install basic security measures such as motion-activated lighting and cameras, and routinely check on seasonal homes. Promptly reporting unfamiliar people on private roads, unusual vehicle traffic, or signs of tampering gives police the information they need to intervene early. As part of our mission to build safer communities, we urge residents to stay engaged, follow official RCMP updates, and use anonymous options like Crime Stoppers if they are hesitant to call police directly.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the newfoundland-and-labrador community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.

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