Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 15/99) - After three break-ins in the last four months, the owners of the Bistro on Franklin just don't know what to expect when they walk in the door.

Thieves have been breaking into the restaurant through the back door, and each time they have targeted the same thing -- alcohol in the restaurant's central bar. The most recent break-in occurred between 1-4 a.m. Jan. 3., at which time several bottles of hard liquor and beer were taken from the central bar, as well as a small amount of money which the staff uses as its float.

The previous two break-ins were also during the early morning hours, on weekends that centred around holidays and festivities known for high alcohol consumption among party-goers. The first was on Halloween night, Oct. 31, and the second on Sunday, Dec. 22.

The three hits have added up to approximately $4,000 worth of alcohol stolen, plus various other underlying costs and hassles such as reinforcing security locks on the door, replenishing the float money, and the constant anxiety felt every night when it's time to lock up.

"I get the feeling at night time that somebody's watching outside waiting for me to take off," said owner, Jamal Talouis.

Talouis and his wife, Fatima have owned the business less than two years, and naturally never expected the onslaught of break-ins to invade the traditionally peaceful business. Talouis recalls that even when he worked in the restaurant prior to owning the business, there was never even the threat of a break in.

Now, a nagging suspicion builds in Talouis every night around the hour of the break-ins.

"You don't sleep well because you don't know what you are going to meet tomorrow," said Talouis. "Even now, once in a while, I take a drive one o'clock or two o'clock in the morning. I just drive around and check up. It's a worry."

Each of the break-ins have had a profound trickle-down effect and nothing, it seems, has been untouched by the injustice of the constant assault. Talouis responded slowly when thinking about the persons responsible for the crimes.

"Forgive them? No I will not because each time I open the door I don't know what I'm expecting," said Talouis. "Your door is shut and you think you're safe but you're not. I feel like it's been invaded -- my privacy."

Const. Glen Demmon of the Yellowknife RCMP said the detachment has its suspicions about persons who may have been involved in the break-ins but there has been no one charged or named as a suspect yet. Demmon also said that due to the similarity of the break-ins, the incidents are being considered as possibly connected but it is not yet known for sure.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed suspicious activity is asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP or Crime Stoppers.