To the editor,
Re: ‘Prolific’ bike thief arrested in Nanaimo after stealing bait bike, Dec. 20.
While it is unfortunate that so many people living in the south end of town have had their bikes go missing, I find the way in which the ‘thief’ was caught more distressing. And here’s why: Everybody misplaces items from time to time, or we forget to lock up our belongings in a place where we hope they will be safe. I’ve lost possessions. I’ve assumed I was stolen from. Sometimes I may very have been, but I usually end up accepting the fact that I wasn’t careful enough. I never filed any police reports for those items. I’ve tried finding some items on my own, and usually just end up saying oh well and moving on if I can’t find them.
In the situation presented in this article, it seems like enough people had filed reports on the ‘thief’ that the police could have apprehended him without need of bait. So, why set up bait if the RCMP already knew or suspected who the ‘thief’ was? How is setting a trap for anyone protecting them? If they suspected the ‘thief’ they should have sought out warrants, did due process, as opposed to entrapping.
We live in a time where we are already suspicious and paranoid and fearful of so much around us. And I feel as though having to worry about the items of bait set up around town for the humans of Nanaimo to fall victim to is only adding to those feelings of suspicion, paranoia, and fear. It also has me wondering just how many other things out there are bait.
Who knows? Maybe the person they arrested was the person responsible for all those missing bikes in the south end of town. All I can tell for sure is that the person they arrested was responsible for taking a bike placed there as a trap, a setup. And it is my opinion that entrapment of a person is worse behaviour than the theft of any possession.
Gareth Boyce, Nanaimo
The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.