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Cops catch vandals

Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 30/06) - Iqaluit RCMP captured rampaging youth on a destruction spree early on Oct. 23, but their suspected adult ringleader is still on the run.

Police received a call at 5 a.m. about vehicles with slashed tires near the post office in Iqaluit.

NNSL Photo/graphic

It was a cold morning at Top of the World Travel in Iqaluit on Oct. 24. Someone broke into the travel agency and stole luggage. The day before, RCMP arrested three young offenders for a break-in at Wizard's Cafe. Police are still looking for one adult in connection to the Wizard's robbery. - Chris Windeyer/NNSL photo

They arrived to discover 12 vehicles with slashed tires in the area.

At 5:10 a.m. the alarm sounded at Wizard's Cafe, a short walk from the post office.

Police found a broken window, and called the K-9 unit in to see if the people could be tracked.

Once the dog was on the scene, the RCMP went on patrol and found four young men dressed all in black walking near the 500 block, about 1.5 kilometres away.

Police officers talked to the youth, and saw that they were carrying three bottles of wine and a 40-ounce bottle of rum.

When questioned, the youth admitted that the booze was from Wizard's.

They were also carrying a pair of pliers and a knife that was allegedly used in the tire slashing.

One of the youth fled the scene. Although police were not able to catch him, they are confident that they soon will.

When asked if the person who fled is still in town, Const. Denis Lambe said, "I know he is. He is known to us and all the patrols are looking for him. He is over 18 and will be identified when he is charged."

A quick look through Iqaluit shows that Wizard's is far from the only building with a broken window.

Top of the World Travel was broken in to during the early morning hours of Oct. 24 via a smashed window.

The culprits stole luggage from the travel agency.

Boards are covering many windows throughout the city. Hanson Construction lost somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000 due to vandals in mid-October.

RCMP say they do not anticipate any more charges for the three young offenders in custody for the tire slashing and break-in.