Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - RCMP in Sanikiluaq have been busy digging up stolen money buried around town by thieves.

The police responded to a break-and-enter at the Mitiq Co-op Oct. 20 and discovered the store had been broken into overnight.

Thieves made off with more than $10,000 and a large amount of goods such as cigarettes, digital cameras and memory cards.

Much of the money was stashed in homes and under houses around Sanikiluaq, according to Cpl. Paul Robinson.

After receiving a number of calls from Sanikiluarmiut, police conducted a search of a local residence and recovered about $2,500 in cash and some of the merchandise.

Four adult males and three adult females were arrested at the scene.

"In a small community like Sanikiluaq, I don't think anybody can really expect to not get caught with something like that," Robinson said.

As the investigation continued, police seized various amounts of money that had been buried around the community or given to other residents for safekeeping.

"Throughout the following day, through interviews with people in custody and with people in the community, locations were identified where money was buried under houses," Robinson said.

Mitiq manager Dwayne Searle said they have been overwhelmed with the community's support since the crime was discovered.

"The community was very displeased and everyone has been more than helpful, and the RCMP have gone above and beyond the call of duty," said Searle, who added this is the first time in 13 years that he has seen an incident like this.

Services were interrupted for only one day while the store's door was repaired.

While more than $10,000 in cash has been recovered, a substantial amount is still outstanding.