The man behind one of the country’s most unusual crimes was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to nine counts of stealing.

William Bowe, 51, was charged with stealing the licence plates from the vehicles of South Andros Member of Parliament Picewell Forbes and Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant in June.

According to police, the Forrester Street resident stole the plates while the vehicles were parked along Parliament Street during a House of Assembly session.

Bowe was also charged with stealing plates from other vehicles in the area as well as a battery from a truck that belonged to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The incidents prompted National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage to call for additional police patrols in the area.

“Might I suggest that we take steps to have the area properly supervised by police,” he said. “I will speak to the commissioner of police to see what steps [to take] because this is really ridiculous that something like this would happen,” Dr. Nottage said while addressing the issue in the House on June 7.

“It is inexcusable and we will deal with it.”

Members of Parliament normally park their vehicles along the stretch of Parliament just feet away from the entrance to the House of Assembly.

Bowe, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez, was remanded immediately to prison to begin serving his sentence.