A Sarnia man has been jailed three months for stealing a bicycle police intentionally left out to tempt would-be thieves last summer.
Published Mar 11, 2025 • Last updated Mar 11, 2025 • 1 minute read
SARNIA, ONT. — A Sarnia man has been jailed three months for various offences including stealing a bicycle police intentionally left out to tempt would-be thieves amid a spike bike thefts last summer.
Police had deployed a “bait bike” program in response to citizen complaints about bicycle thefts, a Sarnia police spokesperson said Monday. Four people were arrested and a dozen charges were laid.
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Among them was Saria resident Jeremy Penney who was arrested after stealing one of the bait bicycles on July 7. He was charged with theft and three counts of breaching probation, police said.
Penney, 37, recently pleaded guilty in a Sarnia courtroom to stealing the bait bicycle and one count of breaching probation along with another count of theft, possessing a flick knife without a licence, and carrying a concealed weapon in other incidents last year.
Assistant Crown attorney Michael Donald pointed out Penney has a prior criminal record, including six convictions of theft and two for possessing unauthorized weapons. All this has occurred since 2022, he said.
“That record is aggravating,” he said.
Defence lawyer Terry Brandon said her client is no stranger to the court system. He’s addicted to fentanyl and has really struggled with that, she said.
“It’s a constant struggle and only time will tell if this gentleman’s going to stay away from fentanyl or fall back into this pattern,” she said.
Justice Deborah Austin called his offending behaviour in the community repetitive and troublesome, including, the theft of the bait bike.
Penney will be on probation for one year after he’s released from jail.
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Terry Bridge
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