Seven men aged between 18 and 22 years were yesterday charged with stealing five cars, four bikes, a go-cart, three vending machines and other items last year.

Ernest Zarb, 18, Charles Seychell, 20, Lee Joseph Azzopardi, 18, Nathaniel Mifsud, 21, Evan Polidano, 19, Christopher Zerafa, 18, all of Luqa, and David Seychell, 22, of Sta Lucija all pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them involving crimes committed between June 10 and November 26, 2002.

Zarb, Azzopardi and the Seychells were charged with stealing three cars and two bikes and damaging them, while Zarb, Azzopardi, David Seychell and Mifsud were accused of stealing a third car and damaging it.

Zarb, Azzopardi, Mifsud and the Seychells were also charged with stealing and damaging three vending machines and stealing several car stereos from parked cars.

Zarb and Azzopardi were accused of stealing a bike and damaging it, breaking into four cars and stealing car stereos and other items and stealing car parts including head lamps and wheels.

Zarb, Azzopardi and Charles Seychell were accused of breaking into another two cars and stealing car stereos while Zarb, Azzopardi and the Seychells were charged with stealing a car and a go-cart and damaging them.

Zarb, Charles Seychell and Zerafa were accused of stealing car wheels while Zarb and Charles Seychell were charged with damaging a road sign.

Zarb, Mifsud and Zerafa were charged with breaking into a car and stealing another car stereo.

Azzopardi was charged with burgling Lawrence Pisani's house in Luqa and stealing a stereo, tools and a gun.

Charles Seychell was charged with committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent and breaching the conditions of a previous release.

The case was put off for judgment.

Police Inspectors Stephen Mallia and Yvette Farrugia prosecuted.

Dr Michael Sciriha, Dr Ian Farrugia, Dr Joseph Giglio, Dr José Herrera, Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta appeared for the defendants.