LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A break-in closed the Fort Simpson pool for three days last week.

The incident occurred sometime on the evening of Aug. 12 or in the early morning hours of Aug. 13.

Normally busy, the Fort Simpson swimming pool was closed for three days last week as the result of a break-in. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The perpetrators entered the pool by unscrewing a bracket holding the plywood door onto the back of the building and slipping inside, said Const. Jesse Gilbert of the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment.

Once inside one person, and possibly more, caused mischief in the building. The perpetrators threw the children's pool toys around and entered the office where they took staff members' books and personal mail and threw them into the pool, Gilbert said.

An iPod Shuffle was the only thing taken from the building, he said.

The investigation into the break and enter is ongoing. The RCMP didn't have any suspects as of Monday, according to Gilbert.

Due to the nature of the incident, Gilbert said the perpetrators are probably in their early teens. Anyone with information about the break in is asked to contract the RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers.

This is the fourth break-in at the pool this summer. The first three were in July. No charges have been laid in relation to any of the incidents.

Pool supervisor Jackie Thompson said her first thoughts when she entered the building on Thursday morning and saw the damage were "Not again."

In the earlier break-ins, perpetrators gained entry through the large back door.

After the third break-in the door was boarded up to cut off the access point. Thompson said she was amazed that someone took the time and effort to unscrew the door to get in again.

"I don't see the point of breaking into a pool," said Thompson.

Nothing of substantial value is kept in the building, she said. During the earlier break-ins a small amount of money was taken from the cash box so staff started storing the funds elsewhere. The iPod that was taken was used for the aquafit classes.

This is the first break-in where damage was done to the pool, said Thompson. During the incident a hole was torn in the pool liner resulting in the three-day closure while a patch was affixed.

"It's no bigger than a loonie but that's enough to do some serious damage," Thompson said of the hole.

The break-ins are disheartening, she said.

The pool offers a service to the community including swim classes and recreational swimming.

"I feel bad sending away three and four-year-olds who want to come to swimming lessons which is something they love," she said.

Thompson said she thinks teenagers are losing respect for things in the community.

"It's just sad and really pathetic," she said.

Aug. 22 is the pool's last day of service this season.