Yellowknife (May 09/03) - Think your belongings are safe in Yellowknife? Wanda O'Keefe wants you to think again.

After stocking their camper up with groceries last week, Wanda and her husband Cameron locked the door and went home for the night.

Wanda O'Keefe picks up the remains of her five-year old daughter's diary. The diary was among the many toysvandals destroyed when they ransacked the family's camper. It was parked in front of their apartment building in preparation for a trip to Reed Lake. - Cheryl Robinson/NNSL photo

The O'Keefes never suspected vandals would break into their camper and brutally destroy it.

"The next morning my husband was driving by the camper and thought that a rock had been thrown through the window," said O'Keefe.

"But when he opened the door he got the shock of his life."

O'Keefe found smashed windows, kicked in doors, knives driven through walls, appliances destroyed and children's toys mangled.

What groceries the vandals didn't steal were dumped all over the camper, including a jug of Clamato juice and a can of coffee.

"It's pretty disgusting to see that they even destroyed a child's toys," said O'Keefe.

The O'Keefes took the camper out of storage and parked it by their apartment building to prepare for a camping trip to Reed Lake with friends.

Although the camper was just outside their apartment, no one heard the vandals break in.

O'Keefe's insurance company says it might be a $35,000 write-off.

The insurance will cover the camper, but O'Keefe said she's still devastated.

"There is stuff in there that was just irreplaceable," said O'Keefe, listing off a hand-made blanket she got for her wedding and pictures of her child.

"But our biggest concern was our daughter, when she saw the camper she cried."

The O'Keefes just bought their camper last summer and say they are avid campers.

"We just want people to know that vandals are doing this.

"I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through this," said O'Keefe.