Igor Kenk
Igor Kenk | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 April 1959 |
| Criminal status | released (early March 2010) |
| Conviction(s) | 16 charges theft (15 December 2009) |
| Criminal charge | 58 charges theft |
| Penalty | 30 months in jail |
Igor Kenk (born 7 April 1959)[1] is known since 2008 as the most infamous and prolific bicycle thief in Canada.[2] More than 3,000 bicycles were recovered in police raids.[3] Kenk pleaded guilty to sixteen Criminal Code charges of theft on 15 December 2009 at Old City Hall court.[4] He was dubbed "the world's most prolific bike thief".[5]
Kent was born in Slovenia, moved to Canada as an adult and after release from jail, moved to Switzerland.
In 2010, he was the subject of the graphic novel Kenk: A Graphic Portrait.
Life in Slovenia[edit]
Igor Kenk was born on 7 April 1959[1] in Maribor, Slovenia.[6] In Slovenia, he worked as a police officer.[4]
Life in Canada[edit]
In February 1988, Kenk moved to Toronto.[1] Kenk was long known for operating The Bicycle Clinic, a bike repair shop on Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario.[7] In May 1993, Kenk was charged with the Criminal Code offence of possession of stolen property. The Toronto Police Service confiscated 140 bikes but the charges were later dismissed.[1]
The Toronto Police Service (14th Division) raided The Bicycle Clinic on 16 July 2008. However, the Toronto Fire Department prevented the police from entering the building for safety reasons. A Fire Department rescue squad had to remove the upper-floor windows and lower the bicycles by rope because the Queen West store was crammed with bicycles and bike parts.[8] A police sting uncovered 2,865 bikes in garages and warehouses throughout the city. The 50-year-old repair man was hit with 58 charges relating to bike theft and 22 charges relating to drugs.[4] His warehouses was emptied, and about 450 bikes were returned to their owners.[1]
Judge Kathleen Caldwell sentenced Kenk to 30 months in jail.[4] He was released in early March 2010, after serving sixteen months in the Don Jail in Toronto and the Central North Correctional Center in Penetanguishene provincial jail.
2010 book[edit]
Kenk is the subject of journalistic comic book called Kenk: A Graphic Portrait, which was released in May 2010.[9] In 2012, it was also published in Slovenia.[6]
Life in Switzerland[edit]
As of 2019, Kenk lived in Zurich, Switzerland.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Igor the Terrible - Page 4". torontolife.com. October 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ Austen, Ian (21 August 2008). "Toronto Journal - In a Cyclist-Friendly City, a Black Hole for Bikes". NYTimes.com. Toronto (Ontario). Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ "CTV Toronto - Igor Kenk to remain in Don Jail until trial - CTV News, Shows and Sports - Canadian Television". Toronto.ctv.ca. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d O'Toole, Megan (15 December 2009). "Toronto bike thief going to jail". National Post. News.globaltv.com. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ Pidd, Helen (26 August 2008). "2,865 bikes recovered from world's most prolific cycle thief". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Legenda o Mariborčanu, ki je v Kanadi kradel kolesa" [A Legend About a Man from Maribor who Stole Bicycles in Canada]. Večer.com (in Slovenian). Časopisno založniško podjetje VEČER, d.d. 28 January 2012.
- ^ "Igor Kenk returns to jail - Posted Toronto". Network.nationalpost.com. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ "The Igor Kenk / Bicycle Clinic Saga - BikingToronto Community". Bikingtorontocommunity.ning.com. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ Scowen, Peter (3 February 2010). "Igor Kenk gets book treatment". globeandmail.com. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ "Inside Kenk". TVO.org. 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
External links[edit]
- The Serenity of Igor Kenk
- Toronto Police Reports about Kenk at Centre for Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)