Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 10, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A stream of calls came into the Yellowknife RCMP detachment the evening of July 30, reporting gunfire - first on Forrest Drive, and later near Aven Manor and along Franklin Avenue.

One person reported the "gunfire" came from vehicle of a youth the witness knew.

Police contacted the 16-year-old driver, who was later questioned at his home.

The young man immediately explained the "gunshots" were coming from his backfiring vehicle. The vehicle was having mechanical troubles, he explained, and had just started backfiring recently.

RCMP officers recommended the young man avoid driving the vehicle until the repairs were done. The youth agreed.

Ipod theft

Charges are pending for two youths who tried to take someone else's Ipod for a spin.

After midnight on the morning of Aug. 8, a Frame Lake resident caught two youths entering vehicles and stealing an Ipod.

The RCMP was called, and they arrested both youths at the scene.

Tale of the tape

During the week of July 30-Aug. 5, Yellowknife RCMP received 244 calls for service.

These included two charges for impaired driving, six calls for theft under $5,000, a report of a sexual assault that is still under investigation, and a two further drug charges that are still under investigation.

There were a total of 112 alcohol-related incidents, including 52 instances of causing a disturbance, 26 mischief reports and 34 Liquor Act reports.

Hey, lock up

It's becoming common in Yellowknife, but RCMP are again reminding people to lock their vehicles in the capital.

Above and beyond the usual thefts from vehicles, RCMP representative Const. Roxanne Dreilich said there have been reports of vehicles themselves being stolen, because keys were left inside.

"These are crimes of opportunity and if the public takes steps to secure their property it may be possible to avoid having your vehicle or property stolen altogether," she said.

She also said that in some situations, vehicle insurance may not cover instances where owners did not take reasonable steps to protect their property.

Check that sticker

Police also remind Yellowknifers to check their vehicle registrations.

The registrations of people with surnames beginning with P or Q expired at the end of July. People with M or O surnames, meanwhile, have until the end of this month to renew.