Igor Kenk
Encyclopedia
Igor Kenk is known since 2008 as the most infamous and prolific bicycle thief in Canada. More than 3,000 bicycles were recovered in police raids. Kenk pleaded guilty to sixteen criminal code offence
charges of theft 15 December 2009 at Old City Hall
court. He was dubbed "the world's most prolific bike thief".
(now part of Slovenia
). In February 1988, Kenk moved to Canada
in Toronto
, Ontario
.
Kenk was long known for operating the Bicycle Clinic, a bike repair shop on Queen St. W
, Toronto, Ontario. 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.
The Toronto Police Service
(14th Division) raided the Bicycle Clinic on 16 July 2008. However, the Toronto Fire Department blocked 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. A police sting uncovered 2,865 bikes in garages and warehouses throughout the city. The 50-year-old repair man, a former police officer in Yugoslavia, was hit with 58 charges relating to bike theft and 22 charges relating to drugs.
His warehouses have been emptied, and about 450 bikes restored to their owners.
Judge Kathleen Caldwell sentenced Kenk to 30 months in jail. After time spent awaiting trial, Kenk's term is likely to be four months.
Kenk was released early March 2010, after serving sixteen months in prison.
Kenk is the subject of journalistic comic book
called Kenk: A Graphic Portrait, which was released in May 2010
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
charges of theft 15 December 2009 at Old City Hall
Old City Hall (Toronto)
Toronto's Old City Hall was home to its city council from 1899 to 1966 and remains one of the city's most prominent structures. The building is located at the corner of Queen and Bay Streets, across Bay Street from Nathan Phillips Square and the new City Hall in the centre of downtown Toronto...
court. He was dubbed "the world's most prolific bike thief".
Biography
Igor Kenk was born on 7 April 1959 in the Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(now part of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
). In February 1988, Kenk moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Kenk was long known for operating the Bicycle Clinic, a bike repair shop on Queen St. W
Queen Street West
Queen Street West describes both the western branch of Queen Street, a major east-west thoroughfare, and a series of neighbourhoods or commercial districts, situated west of Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Queen Street begins in the west at the intersection of King Street, The...
, Toronto, Ontario. In May 1993, Kenk was charged with the criminal code offence
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
of possession of stolen property. The Toronto Police Service confiscated 140 bikes but the charges were later dismissed.
The Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service , formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second largest police force in Canada after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police...
(14th Division) raided the Bicycle Clinic on 16 July 2008. However, the Toronto Fire Department blocked 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. A police sting uncovered 2,865 bikes in garages and warehouses throughout the city. The 50-year-old repair man, a former police officer in Yugoslavia, was hit with 58 charges relating to bike theft and 22 charges relating to drugs.
His warehouses have been emptied, and about 450 bikes restored to their owners.
Judge Kathleen Caldwell sentenced Kenk to 30 months in jail. After time spent awaiting trial, Kenk's term is likely to be four months.
Kenk was released early March 2010, after serving sixteen months in prison.
Kenk is the subject of journalistic comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
called Kenk: A Graphic Portrait, which was released in May 2010
External links
- The Serenity of Igor Kenk
- Broken Pencil : Kenk : A Graphic Portrait http://www.brokenpencil.com/view.php?id=5371
- Kenk: A Graphic Portrait http://momentumplanet.com/articles/kenk-a-graphic-portrait
- Toronto Police Reports about Kenk at Centre for Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)
- Boing Boing http://boingboing.net/2010/08/13/kenk-graphic-novel-h.html
- Quill and Quire http://www.cbc.ca/books/reviews/2010/07/kenk:-a-graphic-portrait.html