Yellowknife (Sep 29/06) - One hundred Scouts are without one of their furnaces with winter just around the corner.

Leaders are upset the $1500 heat source was stolen sometime within the last week from their new clubhouse on Long Lake.

Scout leader Eric Brown isn't certain what the winter will be like without the several hundred pound furnace, which was taken along with an electrical panel.

He's disappointed that someone would steal from a community group like the Scouts.

"I would expect a lot more honesty and integrity from people, instead of just believing they can help themselves to whatever they want."

Located at the Folk on the Rocks site near the popular Long Lake campsite, the new Scouts' building was recently donated by the territorial government and a local contracting firm.

"They just finished installing (the furnace). The next Wednesday I came in and it was gone. (The building) wasn't locked at the time," Brown said.

He said the furnace, from 2005, was one of four in the building.

Brown reported the theft to the RCMP. "They were kind of astounded that it was gone," he said. Brown was amazed the thief didn't rip the electrical panel out of the wall. "He took the time to disconnect every wire."

Brown is planning security upgrades for the building, which will still be used this winter.

"We're going to be putting shutters on the windows, and with the doors locked it shouldn't be as much of an issue."

Brown said the Scouts were excited to have a new site, but wondered what it would be like without the furnace.

"We haven't used the new place in the winter yet, and we don't know if (the lost furnace) will impact it.

"We've been waiting a long time for a place of our own, and this pretty much fit the bill."

RCMP Const. Maria Williams said police have no suspects in the case. Because the furnace had no identifying marks, the chances of it being found are slim, she said.