Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

INUVIK - Inuvik's newly-formed junior curling club faced a major setback last week and the team coach isn't sure what to do next.

The bank machine at the rec complex was vandalized during a break-in last week, leaving the police and groups involved asking questions.

The Inuvik Jr. curling club suffered a loss this past week with the vandalism to the new bank machine at the rec complex. The team had only paid off a third of the cost of the ATM. Back to front, left to right: coach Nick Saturnino, Shannon Baetz, Vanessa Lennie, Karly King Simpson, and Carina Saturnino. - NNSL file photo

Const. Ben Parry of the Inuvik RCMP detachment said the break-in was reported on the morning of Monday, Aug. 18.

"An employee called it in when he got to work on Monday morning," said Parry.

The machine was installed in the arena by the junior curling team in an attempt to raise funds for their upcoming season.

The junior curling club, led by coach Nick Saturnino was formed last year.

The purchase of the machine was made possible with a loan from the Inuvik curling club.

Saturnino said that with the loss of the brand new bank machine, the junior club has no choice but to pay back the loan to the Inuvik curling club before looking at a replacement.

"We were only a third of the way done paying back the loan," said Saturnino.

The new machine cost $3,000. Saturnino said that the machine was installed two months ago and was used more than 600 times.

"We make $2 per transaction, but we have costs to pay as well," he said.

While no decision has been made on what to do about the destroyed machine, Saturnino said he still has to meet with the Inuvik curling club first.

"We haven't discussed it yet," he said.

He said the possibility of getting a used machine as a replacement is a possibility, but that will be looked at once the rest of the debt to the curling club is paid off.

"It's really unfortunate," said Saturnino. "We were going to use the proceeds for this upcoming year."

Parry said the bank machine was not the only property damaged in the incident.

A vending machine and pop machine were also damaged during the break-in.

"They only ran off with chocolate bars," said Parry.

He said the police are not sure of the number of people involved.

"The investigation is still ongoing," he said.

"If anyone has information that might help with this, please call the RCMP."