Varied punishments for five men caught trying to steal from Marsa stores

Five youths caught red-handed trying to steal from bonded stores in Marsa were handed down judgment on Thursday, one of them landing an effective jail term since his voluminous record showed that he had learned nothing from past mistakes. 

Neil Zammit, 25; Etienne Buttigieg, 26; Eman Neil Galdes, 24; Kyle Micallef, 20; and Ogden Caruana Smith, 19; returned to court on Thursday following their arraignment on September 4, the day after they were all caught trying to steal from the stores.

Police had been alerted after suspicious-looking men were spotted in the area of il-Moll tal-Ħatab at around 1am on Saturday, the day prior to the arraignment.

Officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit who converged on site came across the suspects in their dark clothes and wearing gloves, while fresh signs of break-in and two sizeable bolt cutters further confirmed police suspicions.

All five youths were charged with attempted aggravated theft and willful damage to third party property.

Zammit, Buttigieg and Galdes were separately charged with relapsing. 

All five pleaded guilty and all, except for Zammit, were granted bail while the case was adjourned for judgment.

Thursday’s hearing got off to...