Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jun 22/01) - About $2,500 was stolen following a break-in at the Inuvik Community Greenhouse the night of June 14.
Carrie Young, co-ordinator for the Community Garden Society of Inuvik, discovered the theft when she went to work there last Friday afternoon.
"They got in through the front doors," Young explained.
"There was already a crack in the front window down there, and they just punched it through further and got in."
She said the thieves went up the side stairs and apparently jimmied the lock on the door leading to the commercial (upper level) part of the greenhouse, where they then pried open the cash box.
Young admitted bad luck was a factor in the robbery.
"The cash box was locked up onto my desk," she said.
"I just keep it like that during the day and I take it home at night, but I just forgot to take it home.
"I've forgotten to take it home a couple of times, but usually it only has like $25 in it."
Young noted that nothing of hers was touched.
"They knew what they were going for."
She said some locks have been changed since last week's theft.
The greenhouse was broken into once last year, though nothing was taken, and the cash box was stolen last year as well, though Young said that at that time not much was in it.
Young said this theft is discouraging.
"It's like so much work that I've done. It's not even the money. It's the insult," she said.
"You can see how much work I've done. Everyone knows I work here by myself, so everything that's happened here -- I mean, aside from volunteer work and stuff -- has been me.
"It's a personal insult for someone to come in here and take that money because that is all the work I've done."
Effie McLeod, president of the Community Garden Society of Inuvik, said on Tuesday that members are taking measures to make the building more secure.
She added that while the theft is unfortunate, members will carry on.
"It's a very disappointing thing to have happen, but it's certainly not going to hinder us or stop us," McLeod said.
"We'll definitely keep trucking."
