Inuvik (Sep 04/06) - After 35 break-ins in 60 days, Inuvik RCMP believe they've finally caught some of the people responsible.

Inuvik RCMP Staff Sgt. Sidney Gray said a "core group" of four youth have been apprehended. Police are also looking for an 18-year-old girl, believed to be the eldest involved.

Gray said about 14 counts, ranging from theft to forced entry, are expected to be laid once the youth are formerly charged. At a town council meeting held Aug. 28, he promised Inuvik "will see a reprieve" now that the suspects are off the streets.

Since July 1, Inuvik has faced a rash of vandalism and theft, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. Residents are angry about the seemingly random crimes, which have generally hit businesses in the late night hours.

Crimes police are crediting to the group of youngsters include about $6,000 stolen from the Rapid Travel office, destroyed computers, the ransacking of the community greenhouse, spray-painted obscene messages on a variety of buildings, the pouring of bleach over the carpets of the high school and vandalizing the library.

RCMP Const. Jim Craig said a small fire was also briefly ignited using fuel in the centre of Inuvik.

"It could have spread to buildings in the downtown core," he told council.

In addition to this damage - and the countless hours it will take to clean up messes left by vandals - the youths are also expected to be accused of several thefts, including taking alcohol from the Legion.

"Part of the problem is that not much has been recuperated," Gray said.

He added it is suspected that suspects were throwing stolen goods into a nearby river or stashing them somewhere in the wilderness.

At the town meeting, Gray said it was unknown why the youths were being destructive.

"They are not doing this for the money," Gray said.

One example he mentioned was a laptop computer stolen from a business. Instead of keeping the laptop or attempting to sell it, police believe the thieves threw it against a tree several times until it broke.

"We had one girl saying she was not sure if she was going to stop, because she was enjoying herself," Gray told Inuvik's council.

Though he expects vandalism to drop, Gray said businesses in Inuvik should protect themselves.

"It's about the path of least resistance," Gray said. "I don't want to tell people to put grills over their windows, but they should definitely take precautions to make them as safe as possible."

Despite the arrests, some residents expect the vandalism and destruction to continue.

George Staples, manager of Arctic True Value, said the store will always order a steady supply of glass because he assumes vandalism will happen in Inuvik.

"It's a pretty steady stream. Glass is replaced often, especially at the schools," he said.