Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 19/04) - A Yellowknife man who looked into a security camera while breaking into a downtown mall was sentenced on Tuesday in territorial court to six months in jail and ordered to repay more than $6,000.

Gordon Simpson pried his way into the Yk Centre in the early morning hours of Oct. 8 and smashed two surveillance cameras near a Radio Shack storage room.

But Simpson -- who had been drinking Vodka, according to his lawyer -- made the mistake of looking into another surveillance camera and was later identified by police.

"He is not a master criminal," conceded Simpson's lawyer, Glen Boyd.

"Most of the criminals here have flunked criminal school," replied territorial court Judge Brian Bruser.

During the break-in, Simpson also attempted to pry his way into two other businesses before entering the Radio Shack storage room. He made off with roughly $1,000 in merchandise.

Simpson admitted to the break and enter during Tuesday's court hearing and was sentenced to four months in jail. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a power tool from Yellowknife Hardware, where a witness spotted him walking out of the back of the store holding two boxes. Seconds later, Simpson approached the same witness and asked if he wanted to buy a $150 power saw at half price.

He was sentenced to one month in jail for that theft.

"(These crimes) were not very sophisticated," said Bruser.

Simpson -- who has a lengthy criminal record, including five previous property offences -- was given a month in jail for skipping a court appearance. Boyd said

Simpson intended to attend court, but the date slipped his mind.

Bruser ordered Simpson to pay $3,500 to Radio Shack for the damage to the storage room and the stolen merchandise, $2,200 to the owner of the Yk Centre for crowbar damage to several doors, and $149 to Yellowknife Hardware.