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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife resident says she may forego outdoor Christmas decorations this year if the vandalism of her lawn Halloween display continues.

Tanya Burt recently built a ghoulish display on her family home's front lawn, which includes skulls and ghosts hanging from trees surrounded by police tape. One sign reads: "Rotten Realty - Re-possessed."

Tanya Burt displays the floodlight damaged by vandals on her decorated front lawn last week. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

The Ptarmigan Road resident has erected the display every Halloween, spending about $200 every year on new decorations.

"There's probably $500 to $600 worth of stuff in my yard," said Burt.

After last week, however, she said she is thinking of packing it in and passing on the Christmas display too after some juvenile tricksters repeatedly ransacked her yard.

"I had a $30 light that I bought. They took that and smashed it against some mailboxes on the corner," said Burt. "There was glass everywhere."

She said the hijinks didn't stop there. The vandals have taken to walking up her stairs and ringing the doorbell.

"The biggest thing lately is ringing my doorbell between 3:30 and 4 p.m. and between 7:30. and 8 p.m.," said Burt. "They're always doing it right when I'm putting my daughter to bed."

On one such occasion, her 11-year-old son was near the door when it rang and flew out the door to give chase. He didn't catch them or find out where they lived but Burt said he believes there are four of them, about eight or nine years old.

Burt said she has since phoned the police but no culprits have been caught yet.

"I've lived here my whole life and this kind of thing seems to be getting worse," said Burt.

The Yellowknife RCMP detachment did not return phone calls.