by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 12/97) - RCMP are investigating the theft of more than $10,000 in loonies from a Yellowknife residence on Saturday night.

The homeowner, who didn't want to be identified, said he had been saving loonies since February, 1987 when the one-dollar coin first came out. He had them stored in 16-inch brass piggy banks.

"Three of them were full, and one that wasn't quite full had more than $3,600 in it," he said. "The full ones had even more than that. I was quite proud of them because they were so heavy."

The owner estimates that the loonies weighed more than 200 lbs.

Six to eight soapstone carvings were also stolen, bringing the estimated value of the loss to $20-25,000.

He said that the break-in occurred between eight and nine o'clock when he went to get some chicken wings downtown Saturday night for 40 minutes.

He believes that the thieves are people that knew the loonies were in the home, and wanted money for cocaine.

"I know this because I have a rottweiler," he said. "When you get pizza or chicken, they (delivery drivers) won't even get out of the car."

"Why do you think all these break-ins are happening around town?" he added. "... I know they were looking for drug money."

RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact Yellowknife detachment or Crime Stoppers.