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A series of thefts target Kotzebue liquor store

Kotzebue police in recent months reported three thefts from the Arctic Spirits, a city-owned liquor store.

In the first theft, locks were cut on a storage container and two cases of Alaska Ready-to-Drink four-packs were stolen on Sept. 14, around 1 a.m., Kotzebue Police Department said in a statement. The retail value for the stolen products was over $250, police said.

Another theft happened on the early morning of Oct. 10, police said. A connex container was left unlocked the day before, and 11 cases of Tito’s Vodka and two cases of Sutter Home Mini White Zinfandel were stolen, police said. The value for the goods was over $5,400, police said.

Lastly, on Oct. 26, police reported a break-in at the store at 4:15 a.m. Locks were cut on the storage connex, they said. Later the next day, police retrieved stolen items that included one case of Grey Goose Vodka, six cases of Taaka Vodka with one bottle missing and two cases of Crown Royal with one bottle missing as well.

People who might have information about the suspects can contact the police department at 907-442-3351.

In total, four burglaries were reported this year at Arctic Spirits, and two of them were solved, said Kotzebue City Manager Tessa Baldwin

Baldwin said the store also has recently upgraded their security camera system.

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“Arctic Spirits does have a camera system and was just upgraded in the last couple months,” Baldwin said. “We are working with Kotzebue Electric Association to get more in the surrounding area.”

Alena Naiden

Alena Naiden writes about communities in the North Slope and Northwest Arctic regions for the Arctic Sounder and ADN. Previously, she worked at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.