Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 21/01) - Vandalism on sporting facilities in place for public use has grabbed the attention of city officials.

Mayor Gordon Van Tighem said Monday he has directed the community services department to put a new alarm system in place at the Yellowknife Community Arena as soon as possible.

"We need to maintain a little higher monitoring than in the past," Van Tighem said following the weekend's apparent attack on the complex.

Police are calling it a minor break and enter because the culprits were targeting cash or items readily sold for cash.

"It is really unfortunate when people do take on something for the general public and penalize them," Van Tighem added.

About $30 was taken from the skate-sharpening machine after its cover was forced open to get at the wooden money receptacle.

Arena supervisor John Campbell said even though nothing of tremendous value was actually stolen, the damage may inconvenience the public.

"I don't know why someone would do it," he said. "You would think they would know it is their facility."

The owner of the skate sharpener is now considering taking the machine out of the complex.

Its owner, Beaton Mackenzie, said the cost of repairing the machine could range from $500 to $1,500 -- and this is not the first time it has been damaged.

"The people got away with very little money but the vandalism cost a lot of money," he said. "It may not make it feasible this year."

Peterson Auger supplies the snack machine and a soft-drink machine in the facility voluntarily, turning over the profits to the Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association.

The company does not carry insurance under that agreement so it has to repair the snack machine itself.

Although no chips, chocolate bars or money were stolen, the glass on the machine was pushed in and the interior damaged.

"We will have to repair the machine and hopefully the city will put something in place to ensure that this does not happen again," said Peterson Auger general manager Roger Walker, suggesting surveillance cameras could help identify vandals.

He also said this is the second or third time company property at the arena has been damaged.