Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 30/01) - A recent rash of automobile break-ins in Inuvik, coupled with carelessly stored firearms are giving Inuvik police headaches.

At least six vehicles have been broken into in the last month, with three taking place last week.

Const. Mike Carter holds a carelessly stored rifle found in a vehicle reported stolen two weeks ago, as Const. Arthur Smith looks on. The vehicle turned up sunk axle deep in mud near Inuvik's old airport site. - Kevin Wilson/NNSL photo

RCMP investigating the thefts have also discovered two incidents in which persons were improperly storing their weapons in their vehicles.

In the most recent incident involving firearms, an older model Ford Explorer was stolen from in front of the Eskimo Inn on July 17. The owner had left the keys in the ignition. A week later, police located the truck sunk up to its axles in mud near the town's old airport. When they searched the Explorer, they found a .303 Enfield rifle and a .22 calibre rifle. The .22 contained its firing bolt, while the Enfield's bolt and a magazine with eight rounds was found in the glove compartment.

"We're thankful the thieves didn't find those guns," said investigating officer Mike Carter.

That wasn't the case a month ago, when a vehicle was broken into near the Inuvik Fire Hall. Three handguns and one rifle valued at over $4,000 were taken and have not yet been recovered. That causes police, "great concern," according to Carter. In both incidents, the Territorial Firearms Officer has been notified.

Anne-Marie Jennings didn't have any weapons in her Ford Bronco. Still, opportunistic thieves noticed that the doors were unlocked and tried to hotwire the vehicle. Instead, they ruined her ignition, causing hundreds of dollars in damage.

"I'm really angry," the Inuvialuit Communications Society employee told News/North.

"It just means that my truck's sitting in my parking lot, busted."

Jennings noticed the damage on July 18, the morning after the brown Explorer was taken. A few weeks before her vehicle was broken into, Carter says three other pickups suffered damage to their steering columns.

Carter says the thefts have "commonalities" to them, and thinks a group of young people may be stealing the cars for joyrides. A 1999 Dodge Durango was stolen a day later from Inuvik Auto and joyridden until it ran off the road. The vehicle suffered extensive damage.

A male youth, who can not be named under the provisions of the Young Offenders Act, has been charged with possession of stolen property and attempted auto theft. He has been questioned about the rash of thefts.