Many Hay River residents are feeling frustrated and fearful following a string of break-ins in town.
"ItSA国际影视传媒檚 never been this bad, from cars getting broken into, businesses, people walking right into people's home mid-day," said Jarret Larkin, who has lived in town for more than 12 years. "The last few weeks up here have been brutal.
"It's getting crazy for a small town of 3,500 people."
The problem has affected Larkin first hand.
Early on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 25 SA国际影视传媒� around 2:30 am SA国际影视传媒� a lone woman shattered the office window at the Kal Tire location on Mackenzie Highway where he works. The woman, who was caught on security camera, stole a few pocket knives that he believes she intended to sell, and "walked out the front door."
The Hay River Community Announcement Facebook group has been inundated with similar stories in recent weeks, as residents report their own experiences with break-ins SA国际影视传媒� some successful, others not. One woman claimed somebody broke into a local hair salon and stole scissors and other supplies. Another woman claimed somebody entered her house with a crowbar, only to flee when they realized she was home, while another man claimed two men entered his home and were scared off by his dog.
"There are more incidents that are happening, and they are having a profound impact on people, not just financially, not just [in terms of] property damage, but in feeling confidence and security in our community being a safe place," said Kevin Wallington, a 30-year resident of the town and former town councillor.
Wallington didn't experience a break-in himself, but found evidence of an attempt at a local church, including a few items that were left behind. He believes the items SA国际影视传媒� a Zippo lighter and a pocket knife SA国际影视传媒� were likely stolen from somebody else, possibly from a car.
"Any building that stands alone, and there's a possibility of something of value inside of it, that runs the risk about being a target," he said. "Thankfully they weren't able to get in.
"It definitely highlights the kind of the situation that Hay River's been in the last few weeks," he added. "I mean, it's been longer than that, but definitely it's been reaching a bit of a fever pitch. I can't leave my doors open to my garage or my shed or my vehicles. That maybe is something that in other places has been the case for a long time, but maybe not here."
The is aware of the recent break-ins in Hay River, and shared stats with SA国际影视传媒 that reflect a clear increase in this kind of crime in recent years.
In 2017, there were 31 break-and-enters reported in the community. That number rose and fell in turn over the next few years, but by 2022, had increased to 77, and in 2024, climbed all the way up to 84.
One woman who experienced a break-in recently confirmed to SA国际影视传媒 that a police investigation into the matter is underway, and that she was unable to discuss the incident as a result.
Wallington feels the local police are "working hard," to address the problem, but they are slowed down by "having to deal with the legal side of things."
Larkin, meanwhile, is of the opinion that the local isn't "doing enough." He also feels there's a disconnect between residents and the local municipal government.
"ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no communication between the Town of Hay River and the residents SA国际影视传媒� none," he said. "They take all the good things the residents have done and they put it on the news and make it sound good for themselves to make money."
By Wallington's estimation, the solution to the surge of break-ins around town is not as simple as increased police efforts. He believes the problem stems from the illicit drug trade that continues to fester in many communities.
"Quite honestly, it's drugs and addiction that I think are driving a lot of this crime and the desperation that people are facing in trying to meet those needs," he said. "We have an addictions crisis, and we are seeing the surface of this [with the break-ins], but there's a root that needs to be dealt with."
Wallington also suspects that unusually warm winter weather in Hay River has created circumstances where it is easier for desperate people to be outside and commit crime in hopes of satisfying their addictions.
"It has been extremely warm in an extremely difficult time," he said. "It's dark, it's cold, people are broke, and when you have warm weather, that allows you to be out at night searching for places to break into and vehicles to check. I think that's contributed to seeing the increased amount of this activity happening in our community over the last several weeks."
The long-term resident acknowledges the solution to the recent string of break-ins in town SA国际影视传媒� and the addiction crisis that he believes is driving it SA国际影视传媒� is likely to be complicated and long-term in nature.
In the meantime, he believes residents need to continue to collaborate and communicate in order to keep the town safe.
"We have to work together," he said. "We have to continue with a multi-pronged approach. We have organizations working hard, we have health and social services, we have our .
"What do we do as a community? How do we support each other? How do we stay vigilant?"
