Crime booming in Iqaluit this year

CHARLOTTE PETRIE

Crime is rising in Nunavut’s capital city, and criminal activity appears to be capturing the imagination of Iqaluit’s younger residents.

RCMP statistics reveal a disturbing rise in youth-related crimes over the past several months. In particular, a rash of break-and-enters plagued home owners and businesses alike over the past month.

Until the end of May 2003 there were 95 reported break-and-enters, up from 65 in the same period last year – a 50 per cent increase.

Police recently reported a slew of early morning burglaries throughout the city, in which the culprits entered homes while occupants slept, stealing whatever they could make off with.

Several days later, on June 25, an adult male was arrested in connection with the crimes. Subsequent to that arrest, five male youths were arrested and charged with a variety of crimes related to the recent break-ins.

In May, police reported the seizure of a quarter-ounce of cocaine in which a 56-year-old man was arrested. Another arrest involved a 36-year-old man charged with six counts of using a stolen credit card and two counts of theft under $5,000. The list of crimes is lengthy.

Sgt. Ed North of the Iqaluit RCMP told council at its regular meeting June 24 that the number of service calls they’ve received has increased steadily since March, when compared with the number of calls they received last year.

At the end of May, the Iqaluit RCMP received 1,560 service calls, compared with 1,222 in the same period last year.

“This represents an increase of 338 calls for service in the first five months of 2003,” North said.

Booze complaints more than double

For example, he added, there have been 470 public disturbance calls in the first five months of this year in Iqaluit, compared with only 188 calls for public disturbances last year.

“It is noted that the majority of these calls were alcohol-related,” North said.

Youth-related incidents up until the month of May rose from 74 last year to 101 this year. Thefts under $5,000 rose from 86 to 111.

Incidents of property damage rose from 266 to 322. And there were 608 prisoners held compared with 486 for the same period last year.

North warns that with the warmer weather, longer summer days, and the closing of schools for the summer, Iqaluit residents need to be prudent and lock their doors.