SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A snowmobile that was stolen last month has been found, making one Yellowknife family happy just in time for Christmas.

Dan Wong found his family's stolen Ski-Doo Tundra around 49 Avenue on Friday after another citizen responded to an ad on yktrader.com. - photo courtesy of Dan Wong

On Nov. 24 a 2009 Ski-Doo Tundra was taken from a residence on 49 Avenue. That same weekend another snowmobile was stolen on the night of Nov. 22.

City councillor Dan Wong says the stolen Tundra belongs to his family. They posted an ad on yktrader.com asking for people to be on the lookout for it. On Friday, Wong got a call from someone who saw a snowmobile in a parking lot that matched their description.

Wong went to the area and saw his family's snowmobile, abandoned, next to the parking lot.

"I went and walked around the building and there it was, our four-stroke," Wong said.

"It still had three-quarters of a tank of gas and looked like it was almost in perfect condition."

Wong notified the RCMP, who told him to retrieve the snowmobile and let them know if they run into any problems.

The thief was kind enough to leave the keys in the ignition.

"It looked like it hadn't been driven in some time," Wong said.

Last month Bruce Hewlko, president of the Great Slave Snowmobile Association, said people often steal snowmobiles to take them for a quick joyride.

"A lot of times, people steal them because they are there and they want a ride home," Hewlko said.

Wong encourages anyone who is a victim of theft to get the word out however they can.

"I think the people in this community are very vigilant," Wong said.

"It's a close community and people seem to watch out for each other."

Despite losing the snowmobile for a month, Wong said he doesn't hold a grudge against whoever took it.

"Since it's Christmas time, I'll quote Alexander Pope: 'to err is human to forgive is divine,'" Wong said.

"I hope, whoever took it, knows mistakes are always forgivable but it takes courage to admit them."

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