Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 04/02) - A would-be burglar picked the wrong place and the wrong time to break into the Inuvik Works building late Tuesday evening.

Inuvik Works manager Veronica MacLeod and her husband Troy Smith were driving by the office around midnight as the break-in was taking place. MacLeod had just come from an Inuvik Community Corp. meeting that had run late.

"I noticed the lights were on at the board room and I knew something was wrong because the curtains were closed and we never close them," MacLeod says. The couple parked, and Smith went to investigate while MacLeod flagged down a passerby to phone police.

As Smith was walking around the building, he heard someone moving in the darkness. "I thought it was a dog, but then I saw a pair of legs," Smith says.

The culprit started running, and Smith gave chase. After a few blocks, the burglar, who was wearing no shoes, gave up and agreed to walk back to await police. But on the way back, he jumped Smith from behind.

Smith managed to wrestle the man to the ground, but when he allowed the man to sit up, he was jumped again.

By this time, MacLeod had run up to help, and the couple subdued the man again. Taking no chances this time, Smith sat on him until police arrived minutes later.

MacLeod says the burglar ransacked the Next to New second-hand clothing shop and disconnected some computers in the office, but he didn't make off with anything. Damage was limited to the back door, which was kicked in.

"I'm glad that we were out there because I don't know what would have happened if he had more time," MacLeod says. "We're a non-profit organization and we depend on a lot of donations, so we appreciate everything that we have in here."

Inuvik RCMP Const. Chris Self says MacLeod and Smith did a good job of apprehending the culprit, but police don't usually recommend citizens take matters into their own hands.

"It was very handy for us. However, it's also a very dangerous thing to do," Self says.

Marcus Devilliers, 21, has been charged with break and enter, assault and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 16, at 2:30 p.m.