RANKIN INLET - A high stakes game of cops and robbers is being played in Rankin Inlet after thieves made off with a large volume of mail in the community this past week.

If caught, the criminals could face 10 years in a federal penitentiary.

Coun. Justin Merritt: hopes the Nunavut Court of Justice throws the book at those responsible for mail theft in Rankin this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The culprits forced their way through a door during the late evening hours of March 5 at the M and T cargo building in an attempt to steal liquor held at the facility.

The thieves made off with an unknown amount of liquor in addition to the stolen mail.

The building is a favourite target of thieves because of the cargo it holds.

A Calm Air plane had managed to land earlier that evening after all flights had been cancelled during the day due to bad weather.

The plane carried a load of mail, which was stored at Calm Air's mail-holding area inside the M and T building.

The room was easy prey for the thieves once they managed to get past the main doors.

While the amount of mail stolen is not known, a Canada Post employee referred to the theft as "a disaster" the following day.

RCMP Sgt. Gavin Nash said mail theft affects everyone.

"We all have a sense of security when we put an item in the mail it will reach its destination," said Nash.

"When something like this happens, the community gets a bit shaken.

"We have to be part of getting that confidence back in the system by apprehending those responsible."

Nash said because of the break-ins at the M and T building, people think it's not very secure and that's simply not the case.

He said if someone wants to get in bad enough, they'll find a way.

"It doesn't matter how well you lock a place up, there's always somebody dedicated enough to break in.

"They actually drove a truck through the doors once to get in and, this time, they tore the heck out of the big doors to gain access."

Nash said the M and T building is in the industrial section of the hamlet, with the closest homes being in Area 5.

He said residents of those homes wouldn't hear anything on windy nights.

"The traffic also tends to travel the horseshoe around town and not too many vehicles ever venture up that way because there's not too much up there.

"So, the people committing these types of crimes, pretty much have the run of the area."

Nash said the police would love to be driving around town doing patrols all the time, but that's not the reality of modern policing, especially in the North.

He said RCMP officers depend on the eyes and ears of the community to let them know when something happens.

"Mail theft is a very serious, indictable offence that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in jail.

"That's a long time to spend in prison and, rightly so, because we can't have trust in our postal system undermined.

"When you're talking about financial documents, personal information and various types of cheques, these are all big concerns.

"Postal theft is not something law enforcement takes lightly."

Coun. Justin Merritt would like the federal government to take a look at the situation in Rankin to ensure the mail is kept secure.

He said he was surprised the thieves could get to the mail so easily once they were inside the building.

"If these people are caught, I'd like to see the courts make an example of them and prosecute them to the furthest extent of the law," said Merritt.

"Maybe that would keep this from getting carried away in our community.

"I would also hope Canada Post will investigate the situation so this type of thing can't happen so easily in the future."

M and T head Hamish Tatty was travelling this past week and would not return calls to Kivalliq News.

Company employee and former hamlet councillor Craig Collier would not answer questions regarding the incident.