Two men have been arrested and are facing charges following an RCMP investigation that was launched following a rash of 15 break-ins in the Clarenville area, including the Clarenville library and the local food bank, dating back to December. The operation, which resulted in the recovery of a large amount of stolen property has been dubbed “Operation Backgammon”.

RCMP identified 21-year-old Kyle Lane as a prime suspect in the breaks ins as the result of surveillance footage captured during a break-in on January 27th.

Police executed a search warrant on Lane’s Marine Drive home on Monday evening and arrested Lane and another person inside the home. A number of items including four pounds of illicit cannabis and a large number of stolen items linked to nine break-ins were seized.

Those items include two firearms, ammunition, two airsoft pellet guns, an Arctic Cat ATV, musical instruments and equipment, an array of electronics including televisions, gaming systems, a laptop and Apple watch, power tools, non-perishable food items and clothing.

Lane’s car was also seized. Lane and 27-year-old Joseph Kelly are charged with eleven counts of break and enter, possession of break-in instruments, possession of stolen property, a variety of weapons charges, and theft of a vehicle. The investigation continues and further drug charges are pending according to RCMP.