Nineteen firearms, including four handguns, were kept from hitting the streets of Grande Prairie after an alleged break-and-enter attempt was foiled by ALERT Grande Prairie’s organized crime team.
According to law enforcement, the ALERT team charged two suspects on September 11th after a lengthy investigation and charge approval process.
ALERT says the break and enter was attempted on July 31st, and saw a total of 19 firearms being stolen from a home in Patterson Place. Four handguns, five rifles, and ten shotguns were being stolen, along with nearly 500 rounds of ammunition. ALERT maintains that the firearms were lawfully owned and properly stored.
The investigation was launched just weeks before the event when ALERT received information regarding the home and firearms, and ALERT Grande Prairie Staff Sergeant Tim Fralick credits the “timely intelligence” coming to his agency ahead of the incident for allowing his team to make the arrests.
“Our enforcement action prevented these firearms from finding their way to the streets and being introduced to the criminal element,” he says.
Both the Grande Prairie RCMP and the Grande Prairie Police Service were involved in the investigation.
As a result of their investigation, charges were laid against 40-year-old Tasha Lanz, and 42-year-old Denai Lanz and include alleged break and enter, possession of a restricted firearm, and possession of a loaded firearm. Denai’s whereabouts are currently unknown and a warrant has been issued for their arrest.
