RANKIN INLET - After a short time of relative peace, a rash of break and enters is again plaguing the community of Rankin Inlet.

SAO Paul Waye still supports commercial area surveillance cameras as the best way to fight the plague of break and enters in Rankin. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Hamlet SAO Paul Waye said the recent rash of commercial breaks took many people by surprise because it's been awhile since the last outbreak of criminal activity.

He said people may have become a bit complacent and not as vigilant as before.

"Having this start up again is a disappointment more than anything," said Waye.

"People want to feel safe in their own community and these attacks on business aren't good for anyone."

Waye said Rankin continues to run the risk of losing future development if these crimes aren't brought under control.

He said nobody in their right mind is going to open a business in a community known to have a large number of break-ins.

"Nobody's interested in running a business in a town where they have to, basically, build Fort Knox to house anything in.

"People are in business to make money and contribute to the community.

"Whether your talking employment, goods or services, people want and need development and businesses to open in their community.

"Having a big string of breaks like we have to keep enduring here does not endear potential owners to thoughts of starting a business in Rankin."

Waye went on the record in support of a surveillance system during the last string of Rankin break-ins. He still supports the idea, and points to the success some merchants have had in keeping criminals out since they installed video and alarm systems in their buildings.

"I made a proposal to Economic Development and Transportation to access one of its funds to put a security system in that utilizes Internet-protocol cameras.

"The cameras would have focused on the business areas of the community most prone to break-ins, but the proposal wasn't approved.

"The arena was always one of the first places broken into and, since we put in a security system, we haven't had a break there.

"A few other businesses have installed systems with the same result."

Waye said he understands the privacy concerns some may express over a surveillance system.

But at the same time, he said Rankin can't continue to have people kicking in doors, destroying property and causing general mayhem.

"It's a question of which outweighs the other.

"I would never support putting cameras in residential neighbourhoods, but it's reached the point where it's obvious there are commercial areas of town where we simply need surveillance.

"It's our best option for reducing the problem that's plagued our community for so long now."

RCMP Sgt. Louis Jenvenne said the Rankin detachment is just as frustrated as the rest of the community over the recent rash of breaks.

He said officers need people in the community to provide information about the break and enters.

"If we were to start getting a little information from the public, I'm sure we could put things together and solve the problem," said Jenvenne.

"We have six members here, which is six pairs of eyes and ears.

"We have about 2,500 people living in Rankin and we could use as much help from those eyes and ears in dealing with this as we can get.

"That's the way things get solved for the community."

Jenvenne said he wasn't surprised when thieves were able to break into a safe in a government office earlier this month.

He said small safes found in remote communities aren't nearly as impregnable as people think they are.

"Anybody with a good pry bar who's determined enough can, generally, break these safes open.

"But, many of the places being broken into are puzzling because construction sites, churches, a small news office -- these are places where thieves aren't going to come away with more than a few bucks, if anything.

"There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why they're hitting certain places."

Jenvenne said he wouldn't be opposed to Waye's idea of a surveillance system in the community.

He said the majority of the public would also support the system because it would assist in solving crime.

"There are some people who might bring up the privacy issue with cameras up around the hamlet.

"But, there are times a little compromise has to be reached and the good of the community taken into consideration.

"I can't say if such a system would act as an effective deterrent, but the images they captured would certainly assist police in catching the perpetrators of these crimes."