Bristol bike thief got inadequate sentence
Regarding the Post's report about serial bike thief Muharrem Sener being jailed in London after being caught red-handed in Bristol, it is encouraging to see this upsetting crime being taken seriously by police.
But Sener's woefully light sentencing doesn't reflect the financial value of the stolen goods, let alone the enormous misery, inconvenience and repercussions he caused to victims.
Sener was imprisoned for, officially, two-and-a-half years after admitting charges of stealing 83 bikes. Even in the unlikely event that he was counting the number at all, let alone accurately, let alone admitted to every single theft he had really committed, this actually works out at a pitifully tiny punishment per crime. In practice, his sentence will probably be halved but even if he served the full term that would equate to little more than a week-and-a-half per (admitted) theft.
Victims of bike crime are faced with not only the cost and time-consumption of replacing their vehicle but the inconvenience in getting to work by bus (or not at all) while being without other transport, plus increased insurance premiums, emotional pain (if the loser was especially attached to a particular bike) and bitter paranoia against fellow citizens; each of whom becomes suspiciously viewed as potential thieves.
These toerags should be given much heavier sentences, reflecting the true seriousness and ubiquity of their distressing crime. They (along with the more militant wing of Bristol motorists) should also be forced to watch the acclaimed Italian film Bicycle Thieves (1948), which powerfully conveys the sheer trauma caused by having a bike stolen, as well as portraying the elegant dignity of urban cycling (at least, when cyclists are wearing Italian suits rather than Lycra and hoodies).
Hopefully, bike security measures will be boosted by Bristol's new status as a Cycling City. Until this is fully implemented, let's hope police (and passers-by making citizens' arrests) remain vigilant against boltcutter-wielding yobs, and that judges impose maximum sentences. A life sentence would be too short.
Francis Harvey, By email.
2 Comments
by Jay, Bristol
Thursday, October 08 2009, 11:12AM
“My brother had his bike stolen in the middle of the night last year. We have a lane between our house and the next where lots of people keep their bikes, it's gated and they're all locked up. But one night idiots climbed over the gate and cut through the chains. My brother's room is actually over the lane and the noise woke him, we ran out but the thieves were too quick. We called the police, and were told that it wasn't worth their time sending someone out, they took the details and gave us a crime number and that was that. My brother used his bike to get everywhere and he was gutted. It was the second time in about a month that he'd had it stolen too. It had cost us £100 to replace the first one.
A few days later, we noticed a bike (not his sadly) that had been abandoned on the side of the road, with one of the wheels bent. Wondering if this bike had been stolen and dumped, we called the police who asked us what we thought they could do about it, and told us if we were that worried to knock on doors and ask if anyone had had one stolen.
The police are useless at best with most things, but I was shocked at how little they were interested in actual crime - they were the same when my car was stolen, not interested. Reports of crime clearly just interupt their day.”
by Mike, Bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 2:40AM
“I totally agree, trouble is the police and courts see it as petti crime, however the truth is much of a different story.
My wife had her bike pinched and she seen them doing it from her office window, the stress of violaation of her personal belongings being taken caused her much upset and as we were about to go on a family holiday with our children that evening it ruined most of the fun of that. I belive these scum steal bikes becuase they know ther's no real consequances even if they do get caught, which in Bristol is rare anyway.”