Two individuals arrested in Alberta, B.C. for oil and gas site thefts

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA. — Two Grande Prairie residents were arrested following thefts from oil and gas sites throughout Alberta and northeast B.C.

Michael O’Bee and Denai Lanz were arrested and charged on January 12th by members of the Western Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (WAD CRU) with the assistance of RCMP Air Services.

The arrests follow a months-long investigation by WAD CRU, which started in the fall of 2023.

The unit monitored the suspects for targeting oil and gas sites in the counties of Grande Prairie, Greenview, Big Lakes, Woodlands and  Parkland in Alberta, as well as the Peace River Regional District in B.C.

O’Bee and Lanz were charged with multiple offences in both provinces, including break and enter, theft under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments, mischief over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance and multiple counts of failing to comply with release orders.

Both suspects appeared before a Justice of the Peace. O’Bee remains in custody while Lanz was released on conditions.

O’Bee will appear in court in Grande Prairie on January 29th, and Lanz is due to appear on February 5th.