Inuvik (July 09/01) - Inuvik RCMP have to contend with a small arsenal on the loose, after thieves stole three handguns and a rifle valued at almost $4,500.

Dave Grundy

Police say that the weapons were taken June 30 at about 10 p.m. from the cab of an unlocked pickup truck parked near the Inuvik Fire Hall.

Police noted that although the weapons had trigger locks on them, they were not properly stored.

"I want the public to know that there are stolen firearms out there," said Staff Sgt. Mark Wharton, RCMP Inuvik detachment commander.

"That's of grave concern to us," he added.

Dave Grundy of the RCMP's G division in Yellowknife, said that careless firearms storage is not only dangerous, it's illegal.

"The law's quite clear on that," said Grundy. Under the federal government's tough new firearms legislation, all weapons have to be locked with a trigger lock, the ammunition stored separately, and the weapon must be stored in a locked container when not in use.

"Doing any less," said Grundy, "is certainly an offence."

While Grundy said he thinks "the vast majority" of firearm owners in the North are "extremely careful" about weapons storage, a number of incidents involving carelessly stored guns gives him cause for concern.

"Any time a gun gets stolen, it's a concern for the police," said Grundy. "It's a concern for our safety and for the safety of the public."

No charges have been filed in the case and police are continuing the investigation.