INUVIK - It wasn't just the thousands of dollars stolen from Chris Larocque's shop during a break and enter last month that makes the deputy mayor so angry.

After the group of thieves broke into Mackenzie Range Supply on Industrial Road by prying the back door open during the early morning hours of June 23, they shredded his invoice documents and poured a full bottle of juice on his desk and keyboard.

Chris Larocque displays the door thieves pried through last month to gain access to his Mackenzie Range Supply shop on Industrial Road. It's now newly reinforced. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

He said on Monday he's still trying to clean up the mess they left behind.

"I was just choked about it and I'm trying to provide a service to people at a reasonable price," he said. "We're friendly here and we try hard."

He believes youth are behind his shop's robbery as well as many other break-ins that have occurred recently, including six during the week of June 29. Larocque also points to two fires on July 4: one destroyed a house on Bonnetplume Road, the other was set under Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. In both cases RCMP apprehended youth suspects.

He said he's frustrated that the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which dictates how youths between 12 and 18 are treated under the law, isn't tough enough.

"The majority of kids in town are great but there are some that are protected in so many different ways that the justice system seems to have left out the innocent people affected by their actions."

Inuvik RCMP continues to investigate the half-dozen break-ins but isn't releasing any details about individual cases.

Inuvik Drum contacted another business that had been a victim of a recent break and enter, however the owner wouldn't comment for fear he would be targeted again.

RCMP Cpl. Sean Doornbos said most break and enters in Inuvik are committed by youths, a majority of which are repeat offenders who target the same businesses.

"It's fair to say break and enters are committed by young people," he said.

But he added it's not his jurisdiction to comment on whether the judicial system is too soft on youths.

"It falls to the courts," he said. "Our government of Canada has chosen laws that we have and those are the laws that we have to respect and act within.

"My job is to ensure that we have safe communities."

Doornbos said the number of break-ins in town so far this year is not unusual.

"Every summer we generally deal with a few break and enters and by no stretch of the imagination are they out of control," he said.

Larocque said that compared to other businesses located near his shop that have been repeatedly broken into over the years, he's been lucky to have been targeted only twice in the last nine years.

What's especially frustrating, he said, is that the town has tried to put in place several recreational activities for youth, including a swimming pool and baseball diamond and several wintertime activities. He said the town, through its bylaw officers, is also trying to enforce weekday and weekend curfews of 10 and 11 p.m. respectively for youths under 16, but added parental co-operation is needed. If it isn't forthcoming, which he said is sometimes the case, it only adds to the problem.

He said he has had little luck trying to bring the issue of youth justice to the forefront during NWT Association of Communities meetings.

Doornbos said the Inuvik RCMP is doing the best job it can with the resources it has to cut down on break-ins in town, which he added are a fact of life in any community. In the meantime, businesses can do their part by properly securing buildings with alarm systems and properly maintained locks, he added.

Larocque has ordered a new alarm system for his business and has just installed a burglar-proof rear door.