The culprit(s) targeted northbound packages when entry was gained into the building sometime between 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 5 a.m. on Jan. 15.

Mail and cargo items had been accumulating in the depot due to bad weather in the Kivalliq region.

Cigarettes and liquor items were the main targets in the break-in, which also saw a large number of ExpressPost, Priority Post and regular parcels either stolen or destroyed.

The facility was also vandalized, with flour and eggs being thrown over the ripped and destroyed parcels that littered the storage floor.

Const. Chad Butler of the Churchill detachment of the RCMP said police will not release any details surrounding the incident until after the investigation is concluded.

"There was security in place at the site, but I'm not at liberty to disclose the type of security at this time," said Const. Butler.

"We're following a number of leads, but I can't give a time frame as to when we expect to lay charges."

Calm Air president Gary Beaurivage said the break and enter marked the first time anything of this magnitude had befallen the cargo facility.

Beaurivage said the total damage amount is still being worked out with Canada Post, the Co-op and Northern store chains, and a number of other parties affected by the crime.

He said Calm Air management is upset and concerned over how access could have been gained to such a tightly secured area of the Churchill airport.

"I don't know what more can be done to ensure the security of the facility other than to have an armed guard in there, and surely we don't have to go to that extreme," said Beaurivage.

"Everything was locked up and done properly.

"The doors were pried open, door handles busted off and padlocks busted open.

"The Canada Post items are put into an extra-secure area inside the building and it was busted into as well.

"It's purely speculation on my part, but they (the culprits) knew where they were going."