Repeat Thief Faces Suspended Sentence in Andorra Bike Dispute

A man with prior convictions for property crimes faces up to six months of suspended prison time after taking a bicycle from Andorra la Vella's city centre in April 2022. The Corts court heard conflicting accounts during a hearing on Wednesday morning, weighing whether the incident amounted to theft by force or a mishandled discovery.

The defendant claimed he found the bike unsecured on the street, with no lock or security measures. He said he spent two hours in the area waiting for an owner to appear, then took it home intending to hand it over to police. He admitted forgetting to contact authorities immediately, as he entered prison the next day on unrelated charges. Two months later, upon release, he voluntarily returned the bicycle to the station. "I am completely remorseful for everything I have done," he told the court, seeking to avoid further incarceration.

The owner reported the bike missing six days after parking it, finding the four-digit combination lock broken on the ground. He had bought the bicycle in 2016 for just over €400; prosecutors noted its current value falls well below the €600 threshold for a full criminal offence.

Public prosecutors dismissed the defendant's story as incoherent, arguing he broke the lock and highlighting his history of thefts as evidence of recidivism. They requested six months' provisional jail time, suspended for four years.

The defence sought outright acquittal, questioning the lack of photos or witnesses proving the lock was forced. They argued that even if an offence occurred, it qualified only as a minor contravention given the bike's age and low value.

The court must now decide between the prosecution's push for zero tolerance toward repeat offenders and the defendant's claim of good intentions gone awry. A ruling is pending.