Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Jun 03/98) - Police in Rankin Inlet are investigating what they believe to be the worst act of vandalism in the community in recent history.

Const. Mike Harvey said six triple-pane windows were smashed with rocks Wednesday night at Oomilik Enterprises and graffiti written with magic marker on the outside of the buildings.

A tractor that was on the property also had its window broken and graffiti written on it, bringing the cost of damages to more than $3,000.

"For this town, this is a big crime," he said. "We've never had something like this before. We go through rashes of break ins, but this is the most vandalism we've seen here in the last few years. This is like something you'd see down south."

Harvey said the vandal was likely an adult, given the size of the rocks and the height of the graffiti.

"This was strictly mischief," he said.

Rick Strickland, owner of the general contracting business Oomilik Enterprises Ltd., said his brothers discovered the mess at 7 a.m. Thursday morning and then spent the day cleaning it up. He's both surprised and disappointed that someone would target him.

"It's upsetting because if somebody has a problem, I'd prefer they knock on my door and we'll talk it out," he said. "I was quite surprised by the damage and the large rocks -- 10-pound rocks. But if you get a guy on a rampage, why would he stop at one, I guess."

While he doesn't really know who would have committed the vandalism, he believes it was directed at him, and not a random act of destruction or an attempted break in.

"I don't have any cash or booze in these buildings, so this was pure vengeance," he said. "He didn't step foot in the buildings."

Strickland plans to offer a cash reward to anyone who can provide information about the crime, and maintains he will have to install a surveillance system. RCMP suggest anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-661-TIPS.