Various Toronto media outlets and blogs (I Bike TO and Living for the City) are reporting that infamous Queen Street West bike “shop” “owner” Igor Kenk was busted and is in custody after some plainclothes officers observed him allegedly directing another man (also in custody) to cut the lock on a bike and then go for another. Kenk has a reputation for dealing largely in illegally acquired bicycles, and it’s nice to see these well-founded rumours (apparently) confirmed.

While normally quite empathic and some might even say soft on crime, I can’t help but rejoice at this man’s misfortune. I’ve had various things stolen (including a car), but nothing boils my blood like bike theft. Bike thieves are scum. If the bicycle had been invented in the middle ages, Dante would have included a special circle of hell just for them.

Apparently you can go to Central Garage, 9 Hanna Avenue, on Saturday, July 19, 2008, and Sunday, July 20, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (see Craigslist posting) to see if your bike is among the recovered bounty. See instructions from the Sun article mentioned above:

WHERE: 9 Hanna Ave. at Toronto Police Central Traffic garage near King and Dufferin Sts. WHEN: Today and tomorrow, 10-6. HOW: Bring receipts, ID, pictures of you and your bike. You can also call the 14 Division community response unit at Exhibition Place, 416-808-1500, to describe your bike and have police look for you. Crime Stoppers will also have a booth set up at the garage where you can register your bike.