POLICE: Hundreds more bikes recovered as raids continue

JOANNA LAVOIE

July 29, 2008

The city's biggest ever stolen bike recovery operation just keeps getting bigger.

On Monday, July 28, an estimated 700 more bicycles were seized during searches conducted by 14 Division police on three storage spaces in the city's west end. Scores of children's strollers and more than three kilograms of marijuana were also recovered.

This now brings the tally of recovered two-wheelers and their assorted parts to at least 3,000 and counting.

Police, who have now conducted more than a dozen raids, expect to execute even more warrants as the investigation continues.

At this point, 14 Division police have set up two bicycle recovery centres in Liberty Village at 35 Strachan Ave. and across the street at 30 Ordnance St. The warehouses will be open daily from noon to 8 p.m. until Thursday, July 31.

People who have lost their bicycles must provide proof of ownership, such as a photograph or a receipt, to reclaim them. Those without concrete proof of ownership are required to sign an affidavit confirming they are the rightful owner.

So far, about 300 bicycles have been reunited with their owners. Unclaimed bicycles will become the property of the court and sold at auction.

The bicycle-theft investigation began on July 16.

A day in, police spotted a man allegedly stealing an unlocked bike across the street from The Bicycle Clinic at 927 Queen St. W., near Strachan Avenue.

Two men - Igor Kenk, 49, and Jean Laveau, 47 - were allegedly apprehended with bolt cutters.

Last week, Supt. Ruth White said the shop has been on the police's radar for some time.

A series of raids last week at several downtown addresses owned by or rented to Kenk netted more than 2,000 bicycles.

Police also seized more than a kilo of cocaine and marijuana from Kenk's Yorkville-area home during the searches.

Kenk, who has owned his bike shop since 1995 and is licensed by the city to sell second-hand items under specific conditions, and Laveau (whom Kenk alledgedly paid to steal bicycles) were arrested and charged with theft, attempted theft, possession of stolen property and possession of tools for burglaries.

Kenk now faces more than 60 charges as police discover more stolen bikes.

His 37-year-old common-law wife, Jeanie Chung, a concert pianist, was also arrested Tuesday, July 22. She is charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of cocaine, possession for the purpose (of selling) cocaine and possession for the purpose (of selling) marijuana in connection with this investigation.

Anyone with information should call 416-808-1400 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at www.222tips.com or 416-222-TIPS (8477).