find & vbCrLf & within a string - vb.net -

in string have "first & vbcrlf & name" - however, want take out & vbcrlf & doesnt cause line break.

i have done

if thestring.contains("& vbcrlf &")     ' , replace, above of course, want go if end if  

and

if thestring.contains("\n")     ' , replace, above of course, want go if end if  

and "\r\n" no avail.

what missing?

if thestring.contains(vbcrlf)     'do end if 

alternatively...

thestring = thestring.replace(vbcrlf, "")