Yellowknife (Aug 29/03) - Yellowknife RCMP are close to arresting three minors in connection with a recent rash of automobile vandalism cases, says Insp. Paul Richards, detachment commander.

"They haven't been arrested yet...but they will be facing charges relatively soon."

He said the key to identifying the suspects was "good old-fashioned police work" lead by Const. Fred Ritchie.

"We followed several leads, examined forensic evidence and were eventually able to track down the suspects."

Richards said the youths are responsible for a series of vehicle break-ins and thefts stretching from the airport area to the downtown core.

"The scope of the case was quite large," he said.

According to police, the youths vandalized 13 vehicles at the BHP park-and-stay across from Kingland Ford last week. The lot is used by BHP workers during their shifts in Northern mines.

Richards said the youths also had a hand in several vehicle break-ins around the Forrest Drive area and stole a van which was abandoned near the Explorer Hotel.

Police are still looking into whether or not the youths were responsible for a series of tire slashings in the alley way behind 51 Street last week.

Richards also said the youths may have been involved in a spate of taxi-cab break-ins, but it was too early to tell.

"We still need to investigate further to determine if the suspects were involved in other incidents," he said.

Richards said police were able to recover much of what was stolen from the vehicles.

Richards said the youths were not part of a gang and police weren't sure why they went on a rampage.

The suspects will appear in territorial youth justice court after their arrests, which Richards said were imminent.

He also asked any BHP employees who had their vehicles vandalized to contact police at their earliest convenience.