RANKIN INLET
A rash of break-ins has the general manager of a Rankin Inlet company near the end of his rope.
The Nov. 11 break-in at M&T Enterprises was the fourteenth since July 28 and one of the worst yet, said Hamish Tatty.
Thieves got past three padlocks to gain entry to a metal cage holding liquor at M&T Enterprises in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Damian MacInnis |
Tatty said the company has given the Rankin detachment of the RCMP video evidence about 13 times.
He said many of the tapes provided a very good description of the culprits, showing them busy at their illegal work inside the building.
"We've spent a lot of money on having cameras installed and upgraded, as well as installing and updating an alarm system," said Tatty.
"They get through windows and a door and we keep trying to beef them up.
"It must take them at least 20 minutes to force their way through, and then they spend about an hour inside.
"We're dealing with a lot of unhappy customers, including the airlines."
Cargo makes up a large part of M&T's business.
Vice-president of business development Damian MacInnis said the video has him believing the same people are responsible time after time.
He said that's been conveyed to the RCMP, but the company isn't informed on the status of the investigation.
"We give so much to the community. We're hoping this time it can give a little back to us," said MacInnis.
"It's time someone in the community helps us find the people responsible."
M&T is one of the biggest employers in Rankin, having as many as 60 local workers on the payroll during busy times.
In addition to almost $2 million in wages, M&T pumps about $150,000 a year into the community through donations, sponsorships and its annual anniversary event.
Tatty said the criminals target booze and money during the break-ins.
He said they get past three padlocks to gain access to the cage holding liquor.
"In 14 break-ins, we got about $500 in liquor back once from the RCMP.
"They break into our offices looking for money, and that causes us to spend more money to repair the damages.
"We're looking at the possibility of losing customers, and all we can do is assure them we're doing everything we can to keep them out."
Tatty said he's a little disappointed in the police's performance, even though they're doing the best they can. He said M&T is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest in the robberies.
"We've also been discussing the idea of hiring someone for security purposes.
"We have nine cameras as part of a system we invested about $120,000 in and they aren't effective enough.
"If this keeps happening, especially as bad as this one, it will start cutting into sponsorships and how much we can help the community.
"A lot of people will be affected by this if it isn't brought under control."
RCMP Cpl. Greg Deagle said he believes every break-in at M&T has been solved.
He said a number of suspects were identified over the course of the investigations.
"There have been at least five youths and two adults charged in relation to the break-and-enters," said Deagle.
"There's been suspects identified in the one earlier this month and it's still under investigation."
Deagle said part of the RCMP's service to the community is to keep clients informed as to what's going on in any kind of a case.
He said sometimes, unfortunately, sheer volume can make it more difficult to let people know in as timely a manner as police would like.
"Perhaps, too, our investigators may notify an entity within the company, but it's not filtering its way up to management or the owners.
"We've often dealt with other employees in the M&T cases, but I can't comment on whether that information is being filtered up the chain.
"We do our best to make sure all our clients are fully informed as to what's going on with their case."
Deagle said contrary to what some might think, the Rankin detachment has had a property-crime-trained officer in town since this past July.
He said the officer is trained to take fingerprints and any other type of evidence from a property crime scene.
"Our management team in Iqaluit has looked at the issues with Rankin Inlet, including the number of files we have, the number of complaints and prisoners we've had and how the community is growing, both in its general population base, the mining company and the new jail.
"There is a plan in place to address that.
"In regards to the break-and-enters, there's a very small group of youths who have been rearrested in connection to them, and they've been involved in property incidents around town, not just at M&T.
"Within this group of, say six to eight, you're looking at about two or three main leaders whose names come up again and again."
