Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 24/03) - After a Yellowknife business was robbed at gun point, local businesses are fighting back against crime.

Air Tindi is one of the businesses that contributed to the reward fund. "It's important that the community gets behind this," said service manager Bob Schnurr. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo $10,000 reward Police are looking for a white male about six feet tall and weighing 165 pounds. He was wearing a snowmobile suit and balaclava when he entered the Midnight Sun Gallery in Old Town around 5 p.m. on November 16. Anyone with information should contact the Yellowknife RCMP at 669-5100.

In just one day, the community raised a whopping $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the masked gunman who robbed the Gallery of the Midnight Sun.

"We're not going to sit back and be someone else's victim," said gallery owner John Seagrave.

They want to send a clear message, he said: "You mess with one Yellowknife business, you're messing with them all."

On Jan. 16, a white man wearing a balaclava and snowmobile suit walked into the front door of the Gallery of the Midnight Sun at 5 p.m. He made his way to the main office where Seagrave and his wife were preparing to close the store.

The man pointed a gun a foot away from Seagrave's chest and calmly demanded cash.

Knowing it was the safe thing to do, Seagrave gave him the money. The thief put the money in a bag and fled through the back door.

"I didn't want that firearm discharging," said Seagrave. "I wanted to get him out as quickly as possible so no one got hurt."

Two other employees and a tourist were in the store at the time. His usually relaxed staff are still feeling uneasy.

Seagrave said police have asked him not to disclose the amount of money stolen. However, nothing else was taken and no one was hurt.

After receiving many calls from concerned Yellowknifers, Seagrave came up with the idea to establish a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.

They decided not to go through Crimestoppers, which is for solving crimes in general. They want the money to go towards solving this specific crime.

Armed robbery is practically unheard of in Yellowknife. Sgt. Al McCambridge ‹ who is extremely impressed with the community's efforts ‹ can't remember the last time it happened here.

It didn't take long before calls started flooding in from businesses wanting to contribute. Seagrave also called people, and asked for contributions.

"People are aghast," said Seagrave. "They are horrified by this. We want to shut this precedent down by capturing this person and making sure it doesn't happen again."

Most of the businesses to donate so far are family-run. But it's not just business people who are outraged.

"It's also coming from the community. We've been inundated with calls asking if everyone is OK."

The Chamber of Commerce volunteered to fax out a reward poster. Centre Square Mall will plaster the same poster around the mall.

Hopefully, someone who knows something will see it. Seagrave said they'll pay out the reward "no questions asked.

"We don't know what will shake it loose. But it makes everyone feel better if we're being proactive."

Yellowknifers are fed up with crime, which seems to be on the rise, said Seagrave. He pointed to the rash of break and enters at homes and businesses late last year. And five youths were charged recently in a connection with a snowmobile theft ring.

Air Tindi is one of the businesses that contributed to the fund. Service manager Bob Schnurr said this crime is on a whole new level.

"This isn't not shoplifting or a break and enter," he said. "It's shoving a gun in someone's face and I think that scares people. It's quite important that the community get behind this."

Jeannie Rocher of Quality Furniture said the store also donated towards the reward.

She thinks longer sentences should also be imposed once criminals are caught.

"The police bust their tail trying to get the guy. But once it gets to court, they are basically let loose. They get a slap on the wrist."

"It's not acceptable. The number of violent crimes in our community has got to stop."