STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE

PRESS RELEASE

Incident:  Multiple Burglary Cases (Update from previous press release)

VSP Cases: 09A203765. 09A204167, 09A204199, 09A204200, 09A204235, 09A204236, 09A204291, 09A204353, 09A204368, 09A204192, 09A204349, 09A204377

Franklin County Sheriff's Department Cases: 09FRC3256, 09FRC3355, 09FRC3302

Date of Incidents: Starting as early as August 16, 2009 thru September 18, 2009

Locations:  Throughout Franklin County

Trooper: John MacCallum

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

As of this date, the Vermont State Police have arrested four people in connection to fifteen burglaries that occurred throughout Franklin County with most having occurred in the month of September.  The four people arrested in connection to these 15 burglaries are as follows:

Shawn Gagnon, age 24, from the St. Albans area

Kyle Gagner, age 24, from the St. Albans area

Miles Lawler, age 20, from the St. Albans area

Melissa Labounty, age 21, from Fairfield
 
After an extensive investigation that included three search warrants being conducted and multiple interviews, the Vermont State Police have been able to recover multiple stolen items to include five handguns.  

Unfortunately, the investigation also showed that many pieces of stolen jewelry were sold to a pawn shop that in turn, sold and shipped the jewelry out of state.  

The majority of these burglaries involved homes that were forcibly entered.  Once inside the homes, the offenders often ransacked the homeowner's belongings in search of various items to steal.  The majority of victims had jewelry, money and electronics stolen.  However, in one instance, five handguns had been stolen, which were later successfully recovered.  Initial indications revealed that these handguns were in the process of being sold or traded for narcotics either in the area or out of state.     

VSP has seen a significant decline of burglaries in the area as a result of this investigation and the related arrests.  VSP continues to pursue and investigate several associated avenues of information potentially related to this criminal group, as the investigation has been extensive and continues to evolve.