Three plead guilty to car thefts

Three Mtarfa youths have been put on probation for three years for stealing five cars and breaking into a shop and a football club within two months.

The youths, a girl, 20, and two boys, 19 and 17, pleaded guilty to stealing the cars and breaking into Roy's Store, in Mtarfa and the Rabat football club between October 29, 2001, and December 19, 2001.

Their names are not being published since they were minors at the time of the commission of the crimes.

The two boys also pleaded guilty to stealing a car and a motorbike and breaking into a car between September 26, 2001, and March 12, 2002 while the 19-year-old also admitted stealing another motorbike and relapsing.

On handing down judgment, Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona noted the serious nature of the crimes but also that the three defendants had filed a guilty plea and were minors at the time.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia prosecuted.