Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 04/02) - A 19-year-old Yellowknife man discovered that crime doesn't pay, especially when breaking into churches and lawyer's offices.

John Koyczan is led from the Yellowknife courthouse after being convicted of a rash of break-and-enters in Yellowknife. He will be sentenced later this month. - Kevin Wilson/NNSL photo

"He might have come to us for a defence, which would have been unpleasant for everyone," said James Brydon, whose offices were hit by the brazen burglar.

"We got hit four times in two weeks," he added.

John Koyczan pleaded guilty Dec. 19 to 10 break-and-enter offences, most of which took place over the last two months.

Clad in a black sweatshirt, Koyczan sat hunched over the defendant's table as the charges were spoken to by the Crown and defence lawyers.

Thomas Boyd, Koyczan's lawyer, said it was his client's first time in adult court.

Court heard that in addition to a break in that netted $300 last May, Koyczan began a crime spree Nov. 4 at Yellowknife Pizza.

By the time the spree was over, Koyczan had stolen money and goods, and inflicted damage in excess of $6,000.

He was arrested after he tried to exchange Russian rubles stolen from one of his victims.

The victim contacted the banks and warned them to be on the lookout for someone trying to exchange rubles.

After the facts of the case were read out, defence lawyer Thomas Boyd told judge Robert Bruser that his client, "wished to get this matter over with as quickly as possible." Bruser replied that his job was to "impose sentence, not to grant wishes."

Koyczan will be sentenced later this month.

The victims

John Koyczan's two-month break-and-enter spree netted more than $6,500. Here, in chronological order, are the places hit and approximate dollar values:

- May 31, 2001, Top 40 Video, $300.

- Nov. 4, 2001, YK Pizza, a laptop computer and liquor totalling $1,100.

- Nov. 26, 2001, Denroche Brydon law firm, $1,500 and a watch.

- Dec. 2, 2001, Koyczan hits three different businesses, including Le Frolic, where he takes tip jar; Polar Parkas, which is relieved of the change in the till, and a church where he takes nothing.

- Dec. 5, 2001, Workplace Plus is broken into - - $440.94 worth of merchandise is stolen.

- Dec. 10, 2001, A residence on 54th street is broken into. Liquor, carvings, money, and a camera are stolen.

- Dec. 11, 2001, Harley's Hard Rock Saloon and Pan Asia Restaurant are the last to be hit. $200 is stolen from Pan Asia, while Harley's loses liquor and assorted merchandise. Combined with damage to the bar, Koyczan runs up a tab of more than $3,000.