Accused of stealing motorcycles

A Zabbar man was yesterday charged with stealing four motorbikes and an unspecified number of car stereos.

Anton Vassallo, 24, pleaded not guilty to stealing the motorbikes on June 25, July 1, 15 and 16, changing the registration plates on three of the bikes, causing damage to all four and riding them without a licence.

He was also charged with stealing a car CD player, speakers and a gold ring from a car parked in Zabbar on February 10, and stealing a set of registration plates from a motorbike parked in Bugibba on September 6, 1997.

Vassallo was also charged with handling stolen property, failing to notify the police within a week of realising the property in his possession was stolen, relapsing, breaching the conditions of a probation order and committing crimes during the operative term of at least two suspended sentences.

Police Inspector Stephen Mallia prosecuted.