City
Igor Kenk Pleads Guilty in Unprecedented Toronto Bike Theft Case
Igor Kenk, the infamous Toronto bike thief, could soon be a free man.
Kenk was sentenced to 30 months in jail at Old City Hall court today, but due to pre-trial custody time, he faces just four more months in jail.
Kenk, 50, who stood accused of masterminding the theft of almost 3,000 bicycles in Toronto, pleaded guilty to just 10 counts of possession of stolen property (10 bikes worth under $5,000), as well as five counts of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of marijuana. To keep the case manageable, Kenk faced only 58 charges relating to bike theft and 22 charges relating to drugs. The remaining charges were dropped, as reported this afternoon.
I personally witnessed one of the discovered stashes of bikes in a rented Parkdale garage in July 2008. The subsequent effort by Toronto police to return the stolen bicycles to their rightful owners, saw 582 bikes reclaimed.
The fate of the remaining unclaimed bikes, collected in the raids of other Toronto garages and in Kenk's Queen St. W. bike shop, is yet to be determined.
Charges against Kenk's common-law wife Jeanie Chung were also dropped, as part of today's plea bargain. Chung, a classical pianist, also faced charges relating to stolen property and drugs that were found in their Yorkville home.
Kenk still has to face assault charges, stemming from an incident in December 2008 where he allegedly swung a metal pipe at the owners of a garage he rented.
Do you think that this sentence is fair? What message does this send to would-be bike thieves and the future safety of parked bicycles on the streets of Toronto?
Photos by the author.
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The law doesn't give a $#!+ about those harmed in this: cyclists or 'crackheads'.
"Igor the Terrible" has stolen time and prized possessions, inconvenienced many people and was violent, unapologetic and brash about his drug pushing. Shouldn't there be conspiracy charges as well? Has no one seen the documentary about this man where he practically admits to his crimes: "Pedal Power?" Honestly, in my opinion, the guy is a nutjob and belongs behind bars or in an institution - how was he allowed to come to Canada in the first place? Perhaps it's time for stricter immigration in addition to new policies on Global warming. This guy is scum and actually probably deserves to receive the punishment an NYC bike thief got - a little street justice from those most affected by this (see link: http://gothamist.com/2009/09/08/video_bike_thief_gets_beatdown.php).
The "City" Police/ Justice System can turn a blind eye to so much concerning the rights of the cyclist - it is disgusting. Working in a law office no one can actually answer how a bike is considered a motor vehicle. The vastness in the difference of the standards of not only parts, but also upkeep but also the fact that one is dependent on a energy/fuel-powered motor while the other utilizes and requires a human to work.
Moreover, to the environmentally conscious cyclists, their bikes are not only prized positions but a means of transport that is economical and green. Many bikes cost more than jewelry and HD TV's - the loss of a bike not only places the rider at a disadvantage but the environment as well. It is time to protect the rights of a biker, they are also a citizen when they get off their bike. It is likewise a person you are dealing with when they ARE on a bicycle - not a subhuman or slave. Practically everyone rode a bike as a child and loved it - wouldn't you want you to be protected if you decided to go out again for a ride later in life? Wouldn't you want the same for your child as they learn?
Toronto needs to not only protect but educate cyclists on their responsibilities and requirements for riding on the road - in addition new drivers need to be made aware of the shared rights of the cyclist on the road. Too many people/cyclists are ignorant to what they are "supposed to know" and only find out by receiving tickets. This particular method the Toronto Police is taking on is ineffective and more or less fueling the Cyclist vs Police vs Driver fire. What is the purpose of ticketing people who are actually either A) too poor or (B) doing something positive for the environment in an already un-green city.
This particular ruling is not only unjust to those effected by Igor's crimes but many people of the Greater Toronto Area who ride their bikes and the attempts made for a greener city. Examples need to be made - this was a blown opportunity.
1. For 20 years I wondered why this guy was never arrested and I still wonder.
2. So if he opens a new bike store, or any other store, will anybody keep an eye on him this time?
Kenk is an interesting character for sure, but never loose sight of the fact that he is a criminal who stole from thousands, many of them of limited means. Igor Kenk: Toronto Jerk of the last 20 years award winner in my books.
The prima donna aggrieved cyclist schtick is laughable. You haven't been wronged, this is actually how our justice system works.
1. illiterate
2. mentally ill
3. a rapist
Laura's post was wonderfully overwrought and betrays a naive and startling lack of awareness of the legal system in Canada. The idea of punishing Igor for making it harder to be an environmentalist is laughable. The man spent a few years in a jail that is renowned for its <a href="http://jmortonmusings.blogspot.com/2008/08/treat-presumed-innocent-as-innocent.html";>appalling conditions</a>. He lost his house and he will likely be deported after release. He's a shitty human being but his life is over.
Get over it, aggrieved cyclists lobby. Stop perceiving slights where none exist. If you support harsher sentencing then feel free to vote Conservative in the next election.
/sarcasm
C'mon, get a grip, people.
Let's put this in perspective, folks. Prized possessions? Was it an 19th century heirloom? My car has been broken into twice in the past 18 months, each time costing me $300 for a new window and the police don't care! The crackheads keep stealing my XM radio, thinking it is a GPS. I don't bother calling the cops anymore.
Anyone who thinks crime is 'down' in this city is sniffing glue. The punks know they won't get caught, and if they do, the police can't charge them with anything "I bought it for $20 on the street, officer," is what they tell them.
Bring back public floggings, I say.
ummm no he didn't. My sister is his neighbour in Yorkville.
Isn't there a good social program we can reccommend for him?
Igor was a second hand dealear. He bought most of those bikes, yes the majority of them were stolen. Did you know that less than 50 of the 3,000 bikes were on the police CPIC system. If people had made the effort to register their bikes, he wouldnt have been able to operate so long. The Police had to have the bikes on display because the majority of the owners were to lazy to record their serial numbers and provide them to the police at the time they were stolen. Secondly, there is something in law called the doctrine of recent possession. Meaning you can not prove possession of stolen propery if that property was stolen several months earlier and in Igors case years earlier. Its an automatic defence. Get your heads out of the Sand. Our court system sucks. He did more time than a drunk driver who takes a life.