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Three children under 12, including a seven-year-old, were taken into police custody Thursday for allegedly causing more than $150,000 in damage to modular homes in Red Deer.

The seven-year-old boy, along with two 11-year-old boys, are accused of breaking windows, cabinets, appliances, walls and light fixtures in a number of modular homes.

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Red Deer RCMP have asked the city’s youth intervention unit to become involved in the matter.

“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,” says Const. Derek Turner, of the Red Deer RCMP.

“This was a serious incident with significant impact to the business and its clients,” he said. “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.”

The vandalism occurred at Best Buy Homes at 7898 50th Ave. shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday. RCMP received reports of three children vandalizing approximately four modular homes with steel pipes.