Security guard beaten
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Mar 26/01) - Two masked men beat up a guard and stole thousands of dollars during a break-in at the Toonoonik Hotel on March 18.
The night security officer was taken to hospital shortly after police were called to the scene at around 2 a.m. He was later released after being treated for minor injuries.
Police said between $10,000 and $20,000 was stolen from the Co-op hotel.
This violent robbery took place less than a month after a different guard scared off two people breaking in to the hotel on Feb. 28.
That guard was going out to warm up a vehicle when he came upon to men in ski masks.
Police say they do not think the events are related.
Jeff Hopkins, the hotel's assistant manager, said he was not surprised by either incident.
"It's just the way the hotel is; everyone deals with cash," he said, adding Co-op hotels around the North have had problems with break-ins.
"The Co-op is here to help people and people are screwing the Co-op."
The manager of the Co-op store in Kugluktuk agreed.
Ian McIver's store was broke into in November and although he does not feel Co-ops are targeted, he said more people end up suffering when it does take place.
"They broke into our safe and stole a whole bunch of cash," he said, explaining some communities such as Kugluktuk do not have banks so Co-ops are used to cash cheques and usually have a lot of cash on hand.
"It's unfortunate because it is the people of the community that suffer."
Iqaluit RCMP are following up on some leads, said Sgt. Mike O'Malley.
He said about 20 per cent of the crimes reported to Iqaluit RCMP are of a violent nature, such as robbery including assault.
The number of violent robberies in Iqaluit rose from four to seven from 1999 to 2000
