Brothers are spared jail over bike theft
Two brothers who stole a bike containing more than $5,000 worth of jewellery were yesterday handed a conditional discharge.Jamie Cann Jr, of Warwick, and Ru-Jzarr Simmons, of Devonshire, admitted stealing Katarina Rocha-Bulhoes’ motorcycle on January 16.Jewellery, rain gear, a camera, BlackBerry phone and pet food were stashed under the bike seat at the time.The motorcycle was valued at $3,000, and the various items at $5,526.Ms Rocha-Bulhoes had parked the bike at City Hall car park in Hamilton but realised she’d left her keys behind.She ran back and discovered her bike was gone and recalled seeing Cann and Simmons park alongside her.Ms Rocha-Bulhoes spotted Cann and Simmons driving her bike on Front Street 20 minutes later. She attempted to stop them but the two laughed, and drove off.Two days later, police informed her the vehicle was found near Cann’s home, in trees on Cedar Heights Lane, Warwick.Cann initially denied taking the vehicle, but on January 23 some of the complainant’s jewellery was found at Reid Street’s Cash for Gold store. Cann was on record as selling it on January 17. The complainant’s jacket, and other pieces of jewellery, were found in Cann’s room.That same day, Simmons was arrested for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Police searched his bedroom and found Ms Rocha-Bulhoes’ bike key and her camera.Simmons had also made calls with Ms Rocha-Bulhoes’ cell phone.Yesterday Cann told the court: “None of us want to go to prison. It was a mistake made. Come September I’m going to Bermuda College to study culinary arts.”Simmons added: “In September I’m taking computer science in Bermuda College.”Jamie Cann Sr spoke in support of his sons.“Since this incident, we have punished them,” he said. “I can tell you we have them well under control, you will never see them in your courtroom again.”Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Cann Jr and Simmons: “You have all the opportunities in the world, more importantly parents that care about you; you have a home and have educational aspects.“Why would you want to steal somebody’s bike, steal someone’s belongings, rob somebody of these things? I do not know what is wrong with you.”Mr Warner ordered Cann and Simmons to pay $785 each in restitution to Ms Rocha-Bulhoes.They were also given two years probation, and placed on curfew from 9pm until 6am for the next three months.