Thief stole chained-up bicycle of policeman

OFFICERS WERE WAITING FOR CRIMINAL TO GET HOME...

A THIEF managed to steal a chainedup police bike – but got home days later to find officers had come round to retrieve it, a court heard.

Daniel Turowski took the bicycle moments after the officer, who was on duty, had left it secured in Leicester city centre.

However, officers later obtained a warrant to raid the 38-year-old’s home in Highfields and found the bicycle in his kitchen.

Turowski arrived home a short time after officers had forced their way into his home and was arrested.

He appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to the theft, as well as a second count of bike theft and one of going equipped to steal.

The third charge related to an encounter with police at Leicester railway station last year when he was caught eyeing up bikes, with a pair of bolt croppers in his bag, the court heard.

Prosecutor Kwok Wan told the court the officer’s bike was stolen in Gallowtree Gate shortly after 7pm on Friday, February 5.

“Inquiries eventually led officers to an address in Pluto Close. They forced entry and found the bike in the kitchen, but there were no persons present,” Mr Wan said.

“But while officers were still dealing with the matter, Mr Turowski arrived at the scene, his home address, and was arrested.”

The going equipped to steal charge related to October 3 last year, when officers on patrol shortly after 1am saw Turowski loitering inside the railway station, Mr Wan said.

The officers became suspicious as he appeared to be paying close attention to a pair of bikes which were chained to railings.

Ignoring his claim that he was simply sheltering from the rain, the officers searched his rucksack and found a large pair of bolt croppers and a pair of wire cutters.

He was arrested for the offence of going equipped to steal, Mr Wan said. Turowski committed the first theft on December 3 last year, when he took a bicycle worth £400 from a secure storage area in The Gateway, near De Montfort University.

Police obtained CCTV footage and an officer identified Turowski as the culprit, Mr Wan told the court.

Turowski’s solicitor, Steve Morris, told the court: “He had remained offence-free for some time but things went downhill with the break-up of his relationship.

“At the end of 2019 he was having financial difficulties. His business as a landscape gardener was not doing very well. He was trying to claim benefits and then his business shut down because of the pandemic.”

Of the railway station incident, Mr Morris said: “He went in to shelter from the rain but was tempted by the bikes, but did not steal anything.

“The two further matters relate to his ongoing financial difficulties. He had rent arrears and other problems.

“He accepts he had probably spent too much of his benefits on his children rather than himself. Although laudable, that has caused his financial difficulties.”

District Judge Nick Watson said that the offences meant that a 12-week suspended prison sentence for an unrelated dishonesty offence would be triggered.

Jailing him for 20 weeks, the district judge told him: “In October you were found with bolt croppers, which were clearly intended for stealing bikes.

“These were clearly planned offences during which you were equipped to steal. You are in danger of becoming a professional bike thief.”

He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128. The bolt croppers and the wire-cutters were confiscated.