SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A rash of tire slashings in Ndilo has one resident asking parents to keep a closer eye on their children and youth and to teach them to respect the property of other people.

Fred Sangris said he was one of the victims during a rash of tire slashings in Ndilo on Saturday night. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo

Ndilo resident Fred Sangris said he has heard of around seven cases of tires being slashed around the First Nation community after a group of youngsters were seen prowling around on Saturday night. Sangris said five private vehicles - including his own, a truck that tows canoes for K'alemi Dene School and the shuttle that carries out-of-town patients from Vital Abel boarding house to and from medical appointments were found with flat tires on Sunday morning. The tires were slashed in the sidewalls so they're repairable, said Sangris.

He said witnesses saw the suspects and surveillance camera footage is being used to identify them. He said the damage was reported to the RCMP.

"I want to send a message to the community, to the people here, to always know where their children are after midnight," he said. "That's what's been happening, kids have been running around and getting into mischief here."

Sangris said a group of three teens approached another young man at his home, asking if he'd like to come out and play. Sangris said the young man told them he didn't want to have anything to do with what they were doing because he could see that they were carrying knives and had been drinking alcohol.

"He was smart, that one," said Sangris.

Sangris said parents need to talk to their children about respecting other people's property.

"I always talk with my kids - they're seven now - about respecting other people's property. Don't go messing with other people's things," he said, adding the tire slashing incidents are a rarity in Ndilo.

"Usually, it's so quiet," said Sangris.

RCMP spokesperson, Const. Elenore Sturko said police are investigating.