Fort Liard (Oct 24/03) - On a dark and cold Wednesday night, six teen boys on bicycles and on foot are standing in front of the Fort Liard Hamlet office.

Before long, they are joined by seven of their peers.

They have nothing more to do here than stand and talk or perform bicycle stunts.

Even so, they say they will be there until 11 p.m. or midnight.

Behind them one of the office building's windows is shattered, having been pierced by a pellet.

"Everybody is turning to crime because there is nothing to do," one boy says.

Several of them say that they would like bike ramps and a skateboard park established in the community.

"Maybe (then) there will be less B&Es (break and enters)," another boy suggests.

Some of the teens say they will spend their evenings riding around on their snowmobiles once enough snow falls.

The community has a building designated as a youth centre but it's no longer open due to rampant vandalism.

"We wreck it too much.

"That's why they won't give us a new one," one of the teens admits.

RCMP Sgt. Craig Seafoot confirms crime has indeed increased since the youth centre closed.

He has organized a public meeting for Nov. 6 to address the property crime, bootlegging and other problems.

"I want to get community members out to put some sort of plan together to resolve these issues," Seafoot says.

John McKee, the Hamlet's senior administrative officer, says he also thinks there is a correlation between teen boredom and the recent vandalism spree.

"The youth drop-in centre was supposedly one of the solutions but there's no sense of responsibility," he says.

The hamlet has been without a recreation director for the past few months.

The position has been advertised but an adequate candidate hasn't yet been found, according to McKee.

However, the recreation facilities are still open to those to use them, he notes.

There are also periodic volunteer-run programs for teens at the community hall.

"Teens here don't seem to get very involved in much.

"I don't know why," McKee says, adding that parental support is imperative.

"I don't know what the solution is but if they're wandering the streets they're liable to get into trouble."