SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The saga of a man and his fight with city hall over vehicles removed from his cluttered yard continues.

Marie-Angelo Urbancig is furious after one of the vans that was removed from his property was stolen from the dump where the city took it after cleaning up his yard, Sept. 29.

After repeated warnings some of his property, including three vehicles, was removed by municipal enforcement under the Unsightly Lands bylaw 3979. The city took his belongings to an area that is supposed to be restricted to city staff only, and according to Urbancig, the city was storing it there for him until he can find a place to put it.

Urbancig owes the city for cleanup of his yard, but he said he hasn't received a bill yet.

"It's becoming a nightmare," said Urbancig.

Urbancig said his lawyer forwarded him an e-mail from the city's legal department last week, stating that one of his three vans had been stolen from the city dump and a report had been made to the RCMP.

He said all three vehicles, one 1989 Plymouth Voyager, a 1990 Ford Aerostar and a 1992 Ford Aerostar, were incapacitated, adding one was missing a starter, the other two had no batteries, some of the tires were flat and none had keys in them.

"So on a Sunday night, somebody went to a lot of trouble to take my vehicle, and risk being caught," he said, adding, "these are not polish collector's cars."

Doug Gillard, manager of Municipal Enforcement, refused to comment.

RCMP's Const. Kathy Law said the 1989 Plymouth Voyager was the van stolen, and was taken from the landfill some time between the evening of Sunday, Oct. 18 and the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 19.

The van was insured and registered and was the vehicle Urbancig said he planned to keep, while selling the other two.

He said he is not sure what to do about the situation.

"It is the city that made this theft claim, I don't know if I can intervene," he said. "Even though it's one of my items I don't know to what extent I can be involved in this."

Law said Urbancig may be able to pursue a civil case against the city, and he said he plans to.

"Most definitely. And not just for the van, for the rest of the stuff too," he said.

Urbancig was given until Oct. 20 to find an alternative storage space. Although the deadline has expired, Urbancig can still claim his belongings back from the landfill.

"My stuff, since it was picked up, has been left in total disarray and pilfered, so I'm kind of wondering about what is left, if it's even worth picking up," he said.