Rash of burglaries angers community
Warming centre, greenhouse and college all recent victims
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 15, 2017
INUVIK
Community co-ordinators were flying in for a greenhouse workshop, Garden Day was proclaimed for Friday, and a BBQ was to be hosted - until back-to-back break-ins broke the spirit at the Inuvik Community Greenhouse.
Ray Solotki, executive director at the Inuvik Community Greenhouse, said she was devastated to find the building broken into last week and more than $1,400 stolen. In the week before deadline for this Drum, the greenhouse was broken into three times. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"This was supposed to be a celebratory week," said Ray Solotki, executive director at the greenhouse.
"We were supposed to be on cloud nine and instead we're dealing with a break-in, damage, theft. It's very disheartening and sometimes hard to see what we're actually working for."
More than $1,400 was stolen between the two break-ins. Solotki said she had learned her lesson not to keep cash on site.
"Locked box, locked room, locked building," she said. "We didn't take enough precautions, I guess. Somebody didn't break through any of the outdoor doors, so obviously they either had a code or someone let them in."
Now she's looking at changing all the security systems, perhaps moving to a card system instead of a code.
Adding to the pain, the greenhouse was broken into a third time on the weekend.
"My whole life in Inuvik, I work at the community greenhouse," said Solotki. "To have someone break in and steal money that we worked very hard to earn was very disappointing. I know there are a lot of great people in this community, but it's been a tough week bouncing back from what's going on."
The greenhouse has been forced to reinforce its doors, change its locks and cut new keys.
"The door alone is going to cost $3,500 to replace with a card system," said Solotki.
Threatens job security
In a show of generosity, a new camera system was donated, a postcard-maker in town gave the greenhouse $500 worth of product to sell and another $500 had been raised online for the community organization.
Because the greenhouse is a non-profit, all of its money is earmarked for specific things. The money stolen had been earmarked for wages, potentially threatening employees' job security.
However, Solotki confirmed no one would be laid off and the greenhouse would find a way to adapt.
"The person who stole the money didn't just steal from the greenhouse," she said. "They could have been stealing directly from the pockets of someone who lives in this community. It's bad enough they stole from the community greenhouse, but if I had, had to lay somebody off, how terrible is that? Someone loses their job because somebody else steals what doesn't belong to them? It's pretty gross."
But the greenhouse wasn't the only victim.
Several break-ins
Aurora College was broken into by three children recently, and the John Wayne Kiktorak Centre also suffered two break-ins.
The first time, said centre manager Joey Amos, RCMP caught the thief. But the second time, the person stole the facility's camera system.
Robert Frizzell, North media relations officer for the RCMP, said there have been several break-ins around town in the recent past.
Six break-ins, at the time of the interview, were still under investigation with assistance from the RCMP's forensic identification team.
As it stands now, police have no reason to believe the break-ins are connected, he said, as the methods involved varied.
In Canada, the law does not allow people to defend their property with force.
"The expectation is that you will try and remove yourself from the conflict or the crime," said Frizzell.
"It has to be very clear that they're trying to harm you (to use force). If you go and, say, shoot somebody in your front yard for trying to steal your car, you would be in trouble. The law doesn't protect you as in the States."
The idea is products can be bought again, but there's no refund for a life, he said.
Though it's been a tough period, Solotki is thankful to the community for its support.
"Every tiny little bit that this community gives us, whether it's just word of mouth of support, sending people on tours, buying our stuff at the market on Tuesday - all of this shows the support that we need to know that what we're doing is the right thing to be doing in the community, no matter who decides to break in and steal stuff," she said.
