INUVIK - High Speed Auto was the victim of a break-in last weekend that police estimate will cost its owner at least $20,000 in damages and stolen property.

"This is a serious offence, not just your typical mischief, damage to property case," said Cpl. Kent Pike of the Inuvik RCMP. "It's going to be quite the repair bill."

Arlene Hansen, owner of Originals on Mackenzie, displays the alarm system that helped prevent her business from being broken into earlier this month. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Police were called to the Industrial Road garage on May 16 at about 1 a.m. Thieves had crashed through the building's garage door using an unspecified automobile. Apart from doing significant damage to the property, they stole a van from the shop along with an expensive vehicle diagnostic computer. The vehicle was found by police abandoned on Reliance Street later that morning.

The owner of High Speed Auto could not be reached for comment.

Not long after, officers also responded to an attempted break-in at CMS garage located beside the liquor store. Pike said he believes both cases are related because of the short time between both incidents and the fact that thieves tried to gain access to both buildings in the same way.

"There's no doubt in our mind that they're related," he said.

He said the investigation into the matter has turned up some strong suspects and arrests could be made as early as this week or next.

Both incidents follow a string of break-ins and attempted break-ins on homes and businesses in Inuvik this month.

Although concerned by the recent trend, Pike said it's a pattern common at this time of year with the warm weather.

"This is the time of year it starts to peak," he said.

He said the detachment is ramping up patrols, particularly in isolated areas of Inuvik such as the town's industrial zone.

Some businesses in town are not equipped with alarm systems and police have been encouraging those owners to protect themselves with one. High Speed Auto did not have an alarm system installed.

Arlene Hansen, owner of Originals on Mackenzie, has had an alarm system at her business for the last 20 years. The system helped save her store from being broken into earlier this month, as it was activated when thieves tried to pry the side door open. By the time police arrived, they had fled.

Though she said her business has only been targeted by thieves a couple of times, she believes having an alarm system, which costs $5,000 to $7,000, is a great investment.

"It costs a bit of money but if you look at some of the break-ins you see in town, it's often worth it," she said.

Her system was installed and is currently monitored by a company in Yellowknife. She said hers is a fairly elaborate unit and that other effective alarm systems can be purchased at a lower price.

"It's just a matter of determining what kind of a system would work for your business," she said.

If several business worked together and were willing to pool their resources, she said they might be able to purchase alarm systems at discounted rates or at the very least pay for the travel cost of bringing a technician from Yellowknife. She suggested the newly-formed Chamber of Commerce would be a perfect place to get the ball rolling.

"If these companies had clients here, then they'd probably send someone here regularly."

The reality is, she said, businesses have to take measures to protect their property.

"It's a big deterrent," she said. "If you want to keep your business from being broken into you need something to deter people or to catch them. It's that simple."