Inuvik (Nov 19/04) - In spite of measures such as installing surveillance cameras to deter vandalism, some bold individuals got away with another unwanted paint job at Samuel Hearne secondary school Monday.

In blue spray paint, the culprit or culprits wrote "Nerdz" and "voodoo" on the gymnasium wall and added some new features to the white sculpture outside the school.

"Despite or best efforts we couldn't pin it on anybody," said SHSS principal Dave Reid Tuesday afternoon. "But I'd like to put the message across that this is (the students') school and this shows a complete lack of respect for that."

Though video cameras were monitoring the region where the vandalism took place, the difference between nabbing the vandals and letting them slip away came down to the lack of a connection cable from the cameras to the video recorder.

However, Reid says a cable has now been purchased and the surveillance system is recording.

The principal says he spoke to some students about the vandalism and reported it to the police. At the Inuvik RCMP detachment, Cpl. Thomas Woodfine says that while police get numerous complaints such as this one, tracking down the perpetrators is difficult unless they are caught in the act.

"Police (on patrol) are always watching for that, but it's difficult to catch (vandals)," he said. "Sometimes it's a case of people not wanting to be involved and we could definitely use more help from the community."

Woodfine advises people to call police if they see anything suspicious.

"A group of people standing around a building who shouldn't be there," was an example Woodfine gave.

The corporal also asks that citizens contact police if they see young kids hanging about the streets at a late hour.

In terms of deterring vandalism, Woodfine suggests keeping areas prone to defacement well lit at night.

He also noted that the Inuvik RCMP has had several people interested in taking part in an upcoming Citizens On Patrol program, which the police and community hope will go a long way to halting property damage in town.