Al Capone of bicycle thieves nabbed

Canadian police have arrested the world champion bicycle thief with almost 3,000 bikes in his possession.

According to the BBC, Igor Kenk, the owner of a bicycle store in Toronto, was caught after he fell into a trap set by plainclothes police officers. They had planted bikes in different places and waited to see who would steal them. Kenk couldn't resist the temptation and was detected directing an accomplice to break the bike locks before riding off.

Police found an Ali Baba's cave of over 2,800 bikes in his second hand bicycle store, the Bicycle Clinic. They also found stolen cycles in his home and in several garages which he had rented.

About 15,000 cyclists have reportedly visited a former police garage crammed with the seized bicycles, in the hope of being reunited with their lost property.

While more than 400 bikes have been claimed so far, many hundreds are are unclaimed and may have to be auctioned off after the case is closed.

Mr Kenk is currently out on bail awaiting trial in September where he faces 58 charges including theft and possession of burglary tools.

One hopes that instead of being auctioned off, the bikes are donated to deserving children from poor homes, and also to overweight Canadians who could benefit from the exercise.

As for Mr Kenk, ten years of community service in the Canadian Arctic might be a fitting recompense for the heartburn he has caused to thousands of formerly happy bike owners.