Break-in season kicks off in Iqaluit

JOHN THOMPSON

Iqaluit RCMP kept busy last week, as they dealt with an escalating number of break-ins.

The latest occurred this past Wednesday morning at about 10:00 a.m., just before Nunatsiaq News press-time, when police discovered that somebody had tried to break into the Qairulik Outfitting and Arctic Cat store.

Would-be thieves broke into the Qairulik building by prying open the front garage door. After they got in, they rummaged through the office, but it’s not clear if they took anything.

The wave of break-ins began Thursday, Aug. 25, when police responded to an alarm at Northmart around 2:30 a.m.

About five officers entered the building with a police dog, which helped catch two young persons, who were charged with breaking and entering.

One is 15, while the other is 17. The Northmart building was also broken into several days earlier.

On Friday, Aug. 26, around 2:30 a.m., police on patrol noticed the doors to the Toonoonik Gas Bar were badly scarred from an attempted break-in.

“They tried to peel the door right apart,” said Sgt. Dale McCleod. Parts of the siding beside the door were also pried loose, but both doors held. Police even found two pallets stacked by the air vent, but none of the attempts to break into the building were successful.

On Saturday, Aug. 27, around midnight, police responded to an alarm at the library.

Somebody entered a window with a long ladder through the rear, stole a small amount of cash, then left through the front door. A short while later, the wildlife office was also broken into through a window and a small amount of cash was stolen. Police are still investigating.

No break-ins were reported on Sunday.

On Monday, Aug. 29, about 8:45 a.m., police responded to a call from the public health building.

They found the front door had been kicked open and several offices had been searched. Nothing appeared to have been stolen, except for “a few small items of limited value,” said Sgt. McLeod, who wouldn’t elaborate. (“That way, only the thief or friends know what’s missing,” he said.)

Somebody also smashed windows on the same building during the last few weeks.

At some time between Friday evening, Aug. 26, and Monday morning, Aug. 29, someone broke into the elders’ meeting hall and stole a DVD player. Police are seeking leads.