by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 20/97) - A local day care says it's fed up with the amount of vandalism being done to its property.

The final straw came after a weekend vandalism spree caused the non-profit organization at least $500 in damages.

"I'm willing to bet there's anywhere from five to eight hundred dollars damage done," said Glennis Perry, executive director of the Yellowknife Daycare Association.

Damage sustained this weekend included two broken windows, a smashed handrail, a set of stairs tipped over and an outdoor wooden train splintered and broken.

"Less than a year ago, we had two windows smashed," said Perry.

The list of damage also sustained this year includes a $1,000 tunnel in the jungle gym smashed beyond repair, the fence warped and cut into, the power meter smashed and an outdoor toy storage broken into.

"Every year it seems there's four or five thousand dollars damage done," said Perry, paraphrasing a member of the parent's committee.

To repair just half of the damaged fence has already cost the daycare $1,800.

Of course, the day care has insurance, but Perry said the concern is that their rates will skyrocket if they keep claiming damages.

"We are a non-profit organization and we can't budget for vandalization," said Perry.

The Department of Public Works owns the building and Perry said she is hopeful they will help cover some of the costs for repair.

Perry said the concern is not focused on small children coming into the private property to play on the equipment, but teenagers or adults coming in specifically to cause damage.

In a separate incident, a woman's car was vandalized Friday night at Shaganappy Apartments. A rear passenger window on her vehicle was smashed in with a beer bottle.

"I heard a smash and looked out my window and I saw some kids staggering down the hill," said Charlotte Stagg-Berube.

This is the third time her vehicle has been damaged due to vandalism-related activity.

Stagg-Berube said she hopes to start up a neighborhood watch program in her area.

"We as a community have to take back our town. We can't just leave it up to the RCMP."

Police responded to a number of complaints about vandalism over the weekend, including youths yelling and smashing glass in the Sir John Franklin high area and suspicious youths hanging around the MicroAge Computer and Northern Addiction Services building.