The items shown here were recovered following a search warrant of a home and vehicle in the city (Photo: Grande Prairie RCMP)

By Shaun Penner

Break and Enter

Grande Prairie duo charged in series of break and enters around area

Oct 15, 2019 | 10:45 AM

Grande Prairie RCMP have charged two men following an extensive investigation into a number of break and enters in the area.

Police say that between July 11 and October 4 of this year, RCMP received approximately 60 reports of break and enters to businesses in Grande Prairie and surrounding areas.

However, the investigative work of the RCMP General Investigation Section, along with the Forensic Identification Section, Police Dog Section, and General Duty Section, led to a discovery of links in these cases by finding similarities in each one.

As a result of the investigation, RCMP then conducted a search warrant on a home and vehicle, and litany of stolen items were recovered, including:

• Multiple safes and cash registers, many associated to businesses
• A stolen truck
• Firearms
• Identification and personal cards
• Passports
• Tools used in the break and enters
• Many other items reported stolen from multiple break and enters

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With that, two Grande Prairie men have been charged with a plethora of criminal code counts:

49-year-old Yvan Landry has been charged with:

• Break and enter with intent (x6)
• Break and enter and commit theft (x5)
• Possession of stolen property under $5000 (x12)
• Possession of stolen property over $5000
• Disguise with intent (x8)
• Possession of break and enter tools
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (x3)

While 38-year-old Clifford Dranchuk has been charged with:

• Break and enter with intent (x4)
• Break and enter and commit theft (x9)
• Possession of stolen property under 5000 (x12)
• Possession of stolen property over 5000
• Disguise with intent (x2)
• Possession of break and enter tools
• Breach of recognizance (x9)
• Possession of firearm with defaced serial number
• Possession of a firearm contrary to a Prohibition Order (x8)
• Unsafe storage of a firearm (x4)

Landry and Dranchuk remain in custody at this time and are to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on October 21.

RCMP say though that they continue to investigate a number of these break and enter crimes, and they are reminding the public of the importance of reporting crime to police.

“When crime occurs, citizens and business owners have an important role in reporting these incidents,” said Staff Sergeant Mike Lefebvre of Grande Prairie GIS. “By providing video surveillance, serial numbers, and other critical information to police, the public assists us in locating those involved and increases the odds of holding them responsible.”

If you recognize any of the recovered items, RCMP are seeking the owners of much of the recovered stolen property. They ask that you please report any items that have been stolen (including serial numbers and other identifying information) to facilitate the return of the property to its rightful owners.

Police ask if you have any information in regards to these break and enters or other crimes in the area, to please contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701, or Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).