A 45-year-old man was jailed for 18 months after he admitted a string of bike-related thefts.

Maxwell Mustapha Smith pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to stealing and damaging bikes on four occasions between July and September.

The court heard Smith was caught on CCTV breaking into a bike box on Hamilton’s Reid Street at around 10.20pm on July 9.

He was seen taking a helmet, worth around $250, clothes, cash and a Bermuda driver’s licence.

He was later arrested but said: “I’m not talking to anyone around here.”

In another incident on July 31, a silver bike was reported missing from Reid Street at around 7am.

Police reviewed CCTV footage and identified Smith as the thief.

He was arrested and cautioned but the bike, a helmet and a rainsuit were not recovered.

On August 3, Smith took a helmet, worth around $200, from another bike parked on Reid Street, near the junction with Burnaby Street.

Police saw him carrying two dark-coloured helmets and Smith told them he had stashed them earlier.

Officers seized the helmets, one of which was later identified as having been stolen from the bike, and Smith was arrested. Damage to the bike totalled $1,766.

And on September 9, Smith was caught on CCTV footage breaking into another locked bike parked on Reid Street.

He was seen breaking open the seat and taking several items, including a helmet worth around $275.

Smith was spotted walking north on Reid Street and handing a helmet to another motorcyclist.

CCTV operators, who identified Smith, tracked him and police officers arrested him on Princess Street at around 2.20am.

Smith admitted four counts of theft and three charges of wilfully and unlawfully damaging motorcycles.

He apologised to the court and said he was “just trying to survive”.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo asked: “By stealing or destroying bikes and helmets?”

Smith replied: “It’s the only way I know how.”

Mr Tokunbo sentenced Smith to six months in prison for the theft on July 9 and three months for damaging the bike.

He also imposed a 12-month sentence for stealing the bike on July 31, and 12 months each for theft and causing damage on August 3.

Mr Tokunbo said all the sentences would run concurrently

But he also sentenced Smith on concurrent six-month prison sentences for the two offences on September 9 — a total of 18 months behind bars.

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