Prince George, B.C. –Two people have been arrested and face charges in relation to property thefts in Prince George over the weekend.

 

Saturday morning ( June 1^st) there were two reports of stolen Ford F350’s filed with the Prince George RCMP.    A blue 2001 Ford F350 had been stolen from a residence on Paxton Place, and white 2004 F350 was taken from a residence on Blackburn Road.

 

Police were tipped to the location of a white F350 Saturday night. The vehicle was abandoned about 1.5 kms off Bunce Road. 

 

Police Service Dog “Azar” and his handler attended the scene, and after tracking more than 1.5 kms, ended up in the back yard of Purdue Road residence. That is where a suspect was located. Police say their suspect did not comply with commands and tried to flee. “Azar” went to work and apprehended the suspect who was subsequently taken to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. treated and released back into the custody of police.

 

Then on Sunday, June 2^nd, the stolen blue Ford was located and was pulled over on Blackburn Road. A 30 year old female driver from Prince George was arrested.

 

Police then went to a Blackburn Road residence and arrested two more suspects, and “Azar” was put to work again, this time, following a track from a stolen motor home on the property to a nearby residence. A 32 year old man was arrested.

 

Charges have now been approved   against two men:

 

24 year old Kyle Tony Baraniuk is facing the following Criminal Code charges:

·        Theft Over $5000 x 3

·        Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 x 4

·        Theft Under $5000

·        Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000

 

32 year old Michael Ryan Burwell is facing the following Criminal Code charges:

·        Theft Over $5000 x 3

·        Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 x 3

·        Theft Under $5000

·        Uttering Threats

 

Further charges are pending.

 

Even with these arrests, Prince George RCMP say there are steps all pick-up truck, ATV and light equipment owners can take to provide extra security:

·        Please use anti-theft devices whenever possible;

·        Keep driveways lit at night;

·        Park close to the residence and away from the road if possible;

·        Keep equipment such as skid steer tractors, mini excavators and ATVs out of sight and locked up if possible.