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news
Darren Considine (via Warwickshire Police).PNGWarwickshire man jailed after stealing police bait bike
A Warwickshire man has been jailed after stealing a police bait bike, with officers managing him to track him “within minutes” of the offence being committed in Leamington Spa last month.
Darren Considine, aged 28 and from Kenilworth, pleaded guilty to theft at Warwickshire Magistrates’ Court after taking the bike, which was equipped with a tracker, on 21 November.
The theft was also captured on CCTV and police who pursued Considine on Newbold Comyn subsequently retrieved the bike from a field near Offchurch.
Considine, who was also being sought for breach of a court order, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment.
Following sentencing, Sergeant Trent McMurray said: “Warwickshire Police has a range of items containing police trackers that are placed strategically around the county to deter and help us catch criminals.
"We know that a high percentage of bike theft is opportune - someone sees a bike that has not been secured and simply takes it and rides away on it. This can have huge financial implications for the victim, as well as the distress of having something stolen.
“The bike is part of our ongoing crime reduction campaign, and is designed to make thieves think twice before stealing something.
“Considine was tracked within minutes of stealing the bike, so it is an excellent example of how effective this tactic is.”
Warwickshire Police also pointed out that its Leamington Safer Neighbourhood Teams regularly conducts bike marking events in partnership with Bike Register, adding details are flagged up through its website and on the @LeamingtonCops social media feeds.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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15 comments
A MTB, a carbon road bike, a small dog, a Ming vase, a bag of weed, a Porsche SUV, and a teddy bear...
Collect them all! Fun for all the family...
"Nice to nick you, to nick you, nice."
Having had a bike nicked I know theft needs to be tackled, but there's got to be a better way to solve it than this. When I look at that lad's picture I see someone who needs a leg up and a positive role model, not a short stretch.
Probably more cost effective in the long run too. But without knowing how many chances the lad has already had and support (if any) to reform. Eventually the victims get expaserated and the problem needs to be removed from society.
Yepp, I am tempted to start a Gofundme site so that UK cyclists can throw some money at the poor lad to give him the right help he needs. Poor little mite, and at Christmas time too...
Was it actually locked up, or was it just leaning against a wall somewhere with nobody in sight (like any number of orphaned/abandoned bikes I see around the city)?
It's not entrapment unless the police actively coerced him to steal the bike.
Isn't that entrapment? As the bike wasn't locked, it's unlikely they are reducing the number of actual bike theives (you know the ones who use tools) as against catching dopey plonkers.
Good job, but needs to be ongoing, if casual thieves are less likely to steal a bike through fear of getting caught then this has benefits not just to bike owners but also to plod themselves. Sadly a lot of theft these days is to fund drug habits, my grandson's bike was stolen out his back garden 2 weeks ago, the likely thief is a known druggie who is known to the mothers clan.
If I could prove it I wouldn't be bothering with police, maybe more community floggings for the criminals might make people think twice show that people are not prepared to put up with this and plenty other far worse behaviour to boot!
Was saying the other day, someone stealing your bike is such a personal thing, I wouldn't care if someone robbed the house and took everything (nowt worth knicking tbh apart from the half decent fake Dutch master water colour and my coffee grinder
), but the bikes, that would really hurt, it would make me want to hurt somebody very, very badly indeed!
I'm wondering what bike it was, though I do know that Specialised Sirrus is a popular one for scrotes, and what lock not to buy?
Good that the police somewhere are putting some effort into reducing bicycle theft.
Nice work by the Warwickshire Police.
I wonder what kind of tracking device they use and whether it could be adapted for everyday use by cyclists.
Pathetic looking character. Surprised to see the Police going to this effort.
Perhaps but I'm more grateful than surprised.
Harder to argue that you took the wrong bike because the sun was in your eyes?
Steal a bike - go to jail.
Kill someone on a bike......