Kurt Bugeja Coster
Six robbed at gunpoint
Victims' accounts tally on robbers' description
Patrick Cooke, who was held at gunpoint and mugged early yesterday morning, described how his assailant ordered him to lie face down on the pavement. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Four people were robbed at gunpoint in Swieqi early yesterday morning in a daring robbery carried out by two youths in a cream-coloured four-by-four.
A young couple was also robbed at gunpoint about a quarter of an hour later in St Paul's Bay.
Patrick Cooke, a 24-year-old journalist with The Sunday Times, was only metres from his apartment when he suddenly heard tyres screeching behind him. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw the passenger step out of the vehicle and point a gun at him.
Mr Cooke said the hooded man instructed him to lay face down on the pavement and stepped over him to pat his pockets. He took his wallet, containing €60 in cash and his credit cards, and his mobile phone, which he got recently as a birthday present from his father.
The robber jumped back into the 4X4 and fled.
"I was celebrating my friend's birthday at a club and decided to leave early. I was only about 100 yards from my apartment. Everything happened so quickly it was almost surreal. I didn't even have time to see the vehicle's number plate and when I went to the police station, they told me that, next time, I should memorise it. It's not like these things happen every day."
Mr Cooke said he couldn't sleep at night, "not because I was scared or anything but because I was angry at myself for not trying to stop the robber. Maybe the gun wasn't real".
Mr Cooke said he was not sure whether the robber was a Maltese or not but he didn't seem to have a foreign accent.
The police said that, minutes later, a 38-year-old woman, a 16-year-old girl from Qrendi and a 37-year-old woman from Għaxaq were walking back to their car when they suddenly found themselves looking down the barrel of a gun.
One of the women told the police the robber got hold of her handbag and wrestled it off her shoulder despite the fight she courageously put up. She said he ran to his car, parked nearby, and drove up the road.
The street is normally quite busy on a Saturday night because many people park there and walk to Paceville, the entertainment mecca.
Just over a week ago, a hooded person used pepper spray to force a 22-year-old foreigner to hand over his money in nearby Hay Street, Swieqi.
The Filipino was approached by an unidentified man who demanded money. When the foreigner refused, the robber produced a can of pepper spray and used it to temporarily blind his victim who, finding himself at the assailant's mercy, handed over the money in his possession, about €300.
Sources said the police believe that yesterday's hold-ups were committed by the same people because the descriptions given to them of the robbers and their 4x4 tallied. However, they said a third hold-up, 15 minutes later, does not seem to be connected.
A 21-year-old man from Mtarfa and a 19-year-old woman from Mosta were in a stationary car in Compass Street, St Paul's Bay, when they suddenly noticed another car, with its headlamps off, stopping behind them.
The young couple then saw a hooded man step out of the passenger door, walk over to the driver's door and, before they knew it, they were staring at a gun.
The robber instructed them to get out of the car and then stole their money before climbing back into his car and driving off.
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John Gatt
Feb 10th 2009, 06:57
There was a time in Malta that it did`nt matter what part of our island that the young people or tourists or locals went to , to have a good time. Everybody was having a great time and did`nt think once forget twice about something like this ever happening. The Malta I remember Is like fantasy island. It`s been canceled.
You know the Maltese have survived the roman empire and others . Even Napoleon took Malta in one day and we survived . We need the famous knights of Malta to return at this point. God bless MALTA!!!
Neville Calleja
Feb 5th 2009, 14:12
Hey all young people out there - why the hell do you have to go to Paceville when there are so many good places to chill out in around the island. This could have easily happened to you. Boycott Paceville!
Jos Vella
Feb 2nd 2009, 20:51
is malta safe any longer? too many killings, and now even hold-ups on pedestrians....what's next.
f.grech
Feb 2nd 2009, 18:20
If these scum are caught and found to be drug addicts the court will order that they start rehab. who do you think will pay for their treatment/ no prizes for guessing. even in prison they will still be robbing us.
Joanna Richards
Feb 2nd 2009, 14:58
It looks verymuch that these robbers must have been watching too many American style cop films. Pity they are not professional actors and maybe members of Equity (actor's union) they would probably earn more doing a proper job for the Maltese film industry which is coming up in the world of film making so very glad to hear, they got the right lighten and as we hear from the story amateur actors trying to do a men's job by retraining these type of guys to fit in a modern society and make something of themselves as oppose to stealing from their own people. Well it just a thought,who knows they might read this and behave themselves in the future. Miss.Joanna Richards(student actress)UK.
michael fenech
Feb 2nd 2009, 14:40
Exactly what we need in the news for the upcoming tourist season.
COWARDS.
A Cardona
Feb 2nd 2009, 13:55
@ FF
"This has little to do with image. It's a question of bringing these people to justice and not just patting them on the hand and giving them suspended sentences." ..or indeed €5000, paid trip back home and everything for free when in Malta. I agree. We should do the same with the 500 illegals or so landing in Malta during the winter months.
A.Magri
Feb 2nd 2009, 12:49
Swieqi is an easy target due to the connection with Paceville. In the UK police have used decoys in hotspots to tackle car break-ins and muggers; perhaps a similar tactic can be used in Malta?
Lee Micallef
Feb 2nd 2009, 12:46
In such a short space of time since Malta joined the EU the islands crime rate must have risen ten fold and not just petty crime but more serious attacks. The price to pay for progress is a costly one !
Karl Abela
Feb 2nd 2009, 12:04
Seems that someone needed some money for drugs really urgent.
Alexander Darmanin
Feb 2nd 2009, 11:05
It is time the authorities have most public areas monitored and civilian police placed in areas of activities in private cars and walking amongst the public.
Malta will turn into chaos if something is not done quickly and the perpetrators punished severely.
We will also start losing the few tourists that come to Malta renowned for it's safety.
Chances are the few good people will start arming themselves in order to protect themselves and their families.
Time to get rolling guys
Franco Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2009, 10:04
This has little to do with image. It's a question of bringing these people to justice and not just patting them on the hand and giving them suspended sentences.
Chris Finch
Feb 2nd 2009, 09:40
The police need to make this thier top priority. Malta has a reputation as a safe holiday destination and if people are getting robbed at gunpoint then this will ruin that image. ANd once caught they need to have a lenghty prison sentence imposed upon them, not just a rap on the knuckles of a suspended sentence.
These people are not just robbing the victims, they are making us all victims by ruining Malta's image.
I pray that the gun isnt real because it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.
oh, and to rob women and a 16 year old girl, COWARDS!
I M Dingli
Feb 2nd 2009, 09:36
Safety at its best!