RCMP are investigating the latest in a series of break-ins targeting the city-owned George Little House at the foot of Kalum St.
This time someone broke a window on the east side of the home in the early morning hours of March 2 and climbed inside. While that triggered an alarm, the person was in and out within minutes after smashing through and upending a large display case to then gather up mostly jewelery.
It’s a familiar occurrence to Debbie Letawski who runs a retail business inside the house and who manages the VIA Rail waiting room at the back end of the building.
That’s because the last break-in was just three months ago on Dec. 3, 2022. Entry was gained by going through another window on the east side of the house.
“It’s someone who knows what they’re doing,” Letawski said, adding that the person disabled interior security cameras immediately upon entry and then cut the internet. “He’s fast, in and out.”
The person uses a crowbar to pry off an unbreakable window that covers up one of the building’s original windows and then breaks that window.
Letawski said the break-in occurred around 5 a.m. March 2, shortly after she stopped monitoring outside security cameras. She was doing that to keep an eye on someone who was sleeping on the front porch.
The alarm alerted Letawski, City of Terrace workers and the RCMP.
Prior to last December, the last time there was a serious break in and robbery was in 2018.
“They want the sterling,” said Letawksi of jewelery made using silver. “They also want the money and this time they found the money. I’m closing down the retail until I can figure out what to do.”
In the 17 years Letawski has looked after the house, which was the residence of city-founder George Little, people have broken in through the front door and unsuccessfully tried to break through gates inside.
They’ve even pried up the floorboards of the front porch looking, Letawski suspects, for drugs or other items that might have fallen through the cracks.
One year a group of youth tried to set fire to the building, Debbie and her daughter Britney Charron have gotten used to replacing Christmas lights that get stolen every year.
A RCMP forensics specialist was onsite the morning after the break-in and the interior has been cleaned up and the display case made ready for repairs.
Despite the break-in and damage, Letawski will be ready to host Founders Day on March 8. The event is held each year to recognize George Little.