INUVIK - One resident of the Billy Moore Community Group Home has a simple message for the person or people who stole a snowmobile from his home recently.

"They're dumb," said Leslie Nasogaluak. "It's sad that we can't go anywhere because we don't have a Ski-Doo now."

The snowmobile, which was stolen at about 3 a.m. on Feb. 26, used to transport Nasogaluak and his four fellow house mates during regular on the land trips with the aid of a custom made, four marine seat sled that attached to the back of the snowmobile.

The machine, a 2009 Polaris 550, was practically brand new, arriving from Whitehorse at the end of September.

Since then residents - some of whom have severe mobility problems - have gone out on several trips mostly along the river as well as Airport Lake, where they currently have a cabin.

Ray Massey, the group home's program director, said he had to scrape up the money needed to purchase the $8,000 machine, now he has to deal with the added expenses of trying to reclaim money through the home's insurance company. In the meantime, he has to borrow or rent a machine.

He said whoever was responsible for the theft knew exactly who would suffer the consequences.

"Everybody knows this is the community group home," he said.

"It's a well known fact. I'm assuming that whoever stole our machine knew they were stealing it from the residents of the group home. I wonder to myself, what kind of person would do this?"

Though he normally views punishing people as a last resort, Massey said that doesn't apply in this case.

Massey, who was vacationing at the time of the theft, said employees at the home contacted police after they heard the snowmobile start. The machine was hotwired and someone forgot to chain the snowmobile down.

Massey said he doesn't believe that a locked chain would have prevented the theft because he's heard of several snowmobiles being stolen in town where thieves have used bolt cutters.

Cpl. Sean Doornbos of the Inuvik RCMP said the matter is under investigation. But he said Inuvik is not unlike other Northern communities that struggle with frequent snowmobile thefts, adding owners have to ensure their machines are securely stored.

Massey said the incident has only strengthened his resolve to work harder for the home's residents and he's hoping to replace the snowmobile in the coming months.

The new machine will have a key with a security chip that will prevent it from being hotwired. He's planning to build a storage unit for the vehicle as well.

"It's too bad," he said. "I'm surprised that it happened here. But it goes to show you no one is exempt."