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Igor Kenk

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Igor Kenk
Born (1959-04-07) 7 April 1959 (age 65)
Criminal statusreleased (early March 2010)
Conviction(s)16 charges theft (15 December 2009)
Criminal charge58 charges theft
Penalty30 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

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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

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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

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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

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As of 2019, Kenk lived in Zurich, Switzerland.[10]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Pidd, Helen (26 August 2008). "2,865 bikes recovered from world's most prolific cycle thief". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Igor Kenk returns to jail - Posted Toronto". Network.nationalpost.com. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  8. ^ "The Igor Kenk / Bicycle Clinic Saga - BikingToronto Community". Bikingtorontocommunity.ning.com. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  9. ^ Scowen, Peter (3 February 2010). "Igor Kenk gets book treatment". globeandmail.com. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Inside Kenk". TVO.org. 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
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