Buy your own bike: Teen fined $500 for stealing $175 bicycle caught on camera

Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2024. 5:52 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: An 18-year-old teenager caught on camera stealing a bicycle is now in debt to the court after being fined $505, more than double the value of the stolen item. The fine, imposed by a Senior Magistrate, took into account what was deemed a calculated act of theft.

Dayton Benguche, an unemployed resident of Police Street, Belize City, appeared unrepresented before the Senior Magistrate in Court #2 on Monday. He pleaded guilty to stealing a silver 24-inch Beach Cruiser bicycle valued at $175. The theft occurred on Saturday, December 7, 2024, outside a grocery shop on Mahogany Street, Belize City.

According to the facts of the case, the owner had parked his bicycle outside the store and returned minutes later to find it missing. As he walked toward the police station to report the crime, he spotted his stolen bicycle. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the area, which captured Benguche committing the theft. Shortly afterward, police detained Benguche, who was still in possession of the bicycle.

In court, Benguche admitted to the theft and waived his right to legal counsel. The Senior Magistrate considered several factors in sentencing, including Benguche’s status as a first-time offender, the recovery of the stolen bicycle, and his display of remorse. However, the Magistrate also highlighted that the theft appeared premeditated, as Benguche waited for the owner to enter the store before stealing the bicycle.

Ultimately, Benguche was given a non-custodial sentence and fined $500 plus a $5 court fee. He has until March 17, 2025, to pay the fine or face two months in prison. The Magistrate warned Benguche that a repeat offense could result in jail time.

While the fine was significantly higher than the value of the stolen bicycle, the court deemed it a fair balance of justice and mercy.

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