Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 12/01) - Southerners' fascination with the tin polar bear NWT licence plate is causing police files to pile up and residents to be wary when travelling.

Licence plates are hot items for tourists. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

One resident became the victim of souvenir seekers on a trip to Calgary about three years ago.

"Thank God that was when we had two licence plates," she said. "Now we have ours bolted really well."

Yellowknife RCMP Sgt. Al McCambridge said there were complaints of stolen plates made three times in one week late this summer.

"The tourists want them because of the bear," he said, but warned that visitors who purchase the plates from peddlers are in possession of stolen property.

"If it's a numbered plate, do not buy it," he said. "Souvenir licence plates have 0s on them or 2000."

McCambridge said the ones who sneakily take screwdrivers to plates are often youngsters out to make a few bucks from tourists. But tourists themselves are not barred from suspicion.

Liz Lane, manager of Yellowknife registries, said when someone's plate is ripped off their vehicle, it costs $18.56 to get it replaced.

"It seems like tourists are taking them as they are leaving," she said, explaining she sees an increase in people needing replacements in her office during the summer months.

On average "you might get maybe one a week or two or three a month," said Lane about plateless victims visiting the registry.

McCambridge said it is not only a problem in the summer months. He was not able to go through the loads of police files to find out exactly how many plates are stolen on a yearly basis, but did say it is a problem year round.