'All that glitters is gold' policeman says of theft suspect

A 24-year-old man, who was yesterday charged with breaking into a Valletta jewellery shop, was denied bail after a magistrate heard how he found it difficult to refrain from stealing as, for him "all that glitters is gold".

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Claudio Calleja, of Pietà, plead not guilty to stealing three watches worth over Lm1,000 from Sterling Jewellery in Republic Street, Valletta, on Wednesday at about noon. Mr Calleja, who was assisted by lawyer Vincent Galea, said that although it was true he had taken one watch, he had not taken the other two.

During submissions on bail, Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud - who was prosecuting with Inspector Raymond Cassar - told the magistrate Mr Calleja needed help.

"He himself told me that whenever he goes out he is tempted to steal... His problem is that, for him, all that glitters is gold", Inspector Micallef Grimaud said.