Six arrested in hold-up investigations

Claire Busuttil

Jan 7th 2010, 22:05

Pjan fuq stil Mafjuz kien dan

C Falzon

Jan 7th 2010, 18:18

Many are saying it was a very well planned attack but I beg to differ. They seem to have completely miscalculated the strength of the armoured van if they thought they could open it with that baby bulldozer. Unfortunately they and others will probably learn from that mistake.
Some are also saying that unreasonable cost cutting has been done by not providing police escort and so on but it seems to me that they have indeed made a good investment in the van giving maximum protection to the occupants and also the money it was carrying.
What I would suggest to do differently is to provide an armed guard inside the van or arm the driver and train him well how to defend himself ( maybe it is already like that - I don't know)
Some defensive devices like smoke and tear gas launchers and similar devices could also provide some very good protection.

S.Caruana

Jan 7th 2010, 00:14

Jiena nahseb fl-opinjoni tieghi li il Vans LI JGORRU L-Flus u dokumenti ohrajn ghandhom ikunu taht sigurta stretta min agenti tal-Puluzija waqt is-sewqan.

Vera li hadt ma` wegga imma anke in nies li jkun ghaddejjien huma fil-periklu.

Nahseb li van minghajr ghassa tal-Puluzija nahseb li qed ikun sogru kbir. Dawn in-nies ghandhom ikunu protetti.

DIn il haga il-korp tal-Puluzija ghandu jikkunsidra, u tittiehed azzjoni f`waqta.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 6th 2010, 17:47

The crime was very well planned, down to the last detail (oil on the ground to cause certain hindrance). Very Rambo-esque. Very high calculated risk nevertheless and anything could have gone horribly wrong, including all vehicles and surrounding dwellings going up in flames. Very Hollywood! In the end, the only thing they did 'right' was setting fire to the escape vehicle.
Prison/prisoners do indeed cost money. But, anybody who thinks prison is a deterrent, think again. A law-abiding, free citizen fears being locked up. To the criminally minded this is no more than an occupational hazard that s/he lives with, especially if they have served sentences before. They psyche themselves up for the very possible eventuality. 'What have I got to lose kind of attitude'. After all, for the hardened criminal with a track-record of imprisonment, prison is actually an abdication of responsibility experienced as a free person. Again, what have I got to lose. This is my opinion but one worth pondering at least.

Joseph Falzon

Jan 5th 2010, 20:37

Vehicles carrying money or other valuables,should always use main roads to go to their destinations. Using these secondary streets or short cuts that are so narrow are advised not to be used in future.

alfred curmi

Jan 5th 2010, 19:08

Make the law very harsh. These things are on the increase as such daring and exact planning - someone who is innocent - passerby - or car drivers not involved - are soon going to get hurt very badly Double the law.

marthese mussett

Jan 5th 2010, 18:21

@John Micallef Jekk ma nitkazawx b dawn l affarijiet.BIEX irridu nitkazaw?Billi nuru r rabja taghna u naghtu prosit lill pulizija,ma jfissirx li mahniex insara.Li kieku ferew jew qatlu lix- xufier,konna nkunu qed naghtu l kondoljanzi lill familja tieghu.Biex ma nsemmux x seta gara kawza ta dak iz zejt li tefghu fit triq.Dawn affarijiet serji,affarijiet koroh hafna.Naf xjien nghid ghax ommi li hi anzjana ukoll sfat vittma ta hold up,dahlu fuqha b'arma tan nar.Dawn in nies ma jisthu minn xejn u m ghandhom hniena lejn hadd.J Alla li l kriminali bhall dawn jinqabdu KOLLHA u jitfghuhom go cella kollha flimkien.Il poplu MA JRIDHOMX MA SAQAJH.Ahna ma rridux li dak li nahdmu hafna ghalih,jispicca f idejn dawn in nies.U l-ebda mara ma tixtieq li zewgha johrog ghax xoghol u jigi attakkat,jew maqtul.

marthese mussett

Jan 5th 2010, 17:51

Ikolli nistqarr li ghandi genn biex inkun naf min huma dawn il galantomi.Haqqhom prosit il pulizija,u nirringrazzjaw lil Alla li x xufier,li hareg al gurnata xoghol,ma gralu xejn.Issa naraw jekk issirx gustizzja jew le,ghax bill mahfra li jemmen biha dal pajjiz.

c. camilleri

Jan 5th 2010, 17:44

I cannot understand how a security van carrying 2.8 million euros had not armed escort. Incredible.

Gianni Xuereb

Jan 5th 2010, 17:02

@John Micallef: please note... NISRANI b's wahda tinkiteb!

j.farrugia

Jan 5th 2010, 16:58

It's a shame that the local media divulged the amount of money being carried by this van. I believe that this creates more stress and tension amongst the other security officers, as it brings the amount of money being carried by these security vans to the public eye. In turn, this may cause other hopeful-thieves to decide to carry out an act similar to yesterday's, putting these people at a greater risk than usual. The amount of money in the van is not important, it is the act itself which is to be discussed. The amount of money should never be published.

H.Calleja

Jan 5th 2010, 16:35

I simply do not agree with most of the opinions hereunder. In my opinion all those who have been sent to prison should stay there until they end the sentence given. In most cases, many prisoners are out after a few months because of pardons and other benefits. One should consider that most of the prisoners are not first-time offenders and were in the streets because they were not caught. If we're paying through our taxes, at least we know that they are behind bars and we are a bit safer. Does anyone give a damn to all the victims of crime? Aren't they the worst losers? Who is today talking of the trauma the driver of the security van has after such a bad experience? Where are the journalists? Why none of them interviewed him after the mishap? Don't bring up any excuses. It is your duty!!

colin stanley

Jan 5th 2010, 16:08

My wife was robbed at gunpoint, in 1980.because he had the best two lawyers on the island, he was not found guilty and was set free. So after some time he did it to someone else,this time he wasn't so lucky, and got 13years, when he got out of prison, he didn't reform ,he is still a BUM and still you see him looking into cars to see what he can steal. how do you think I feel, everytime that I see him crossing the road, when I am driving my car !!!!! as for paying taxes to keep them locked up, so what let us pay, we pay taxes for everything anyway.

John Micallef

Jan 5th 2010, 16:03

He who is without sin throw the first stone ! @ all of you ! pajjiz nissrani ukoll dan ! People do make mistakes, it could be anybody.

Vincent Galea

Jan 5th 2010, 15:42

Mike Tyson is not the world's greatest philosopher but he did say one thing that I think should be over everybody's desk.
Years ago when he was being interviewed before the Leon Spinks fight, a reporter told him
" You know Mike, Spinks has a plan for you. A plan how to finish you "
Tyson replied " They all got a plan - until they get hit "

Chris Mifsud

Jan 5th 2010, 15:08

Capital punishment in deserving cases is justified. I FULLY AGREE with the death penalty, even if it doesn't cut down crime because as Gerald Cassar puts it:

"Whoever commits a murder it is either trough vengeance in that case the criminal will not reflect on the punishment"

Its NOT only about cutting down on crime, but also about justice for the victims.

TV programs such as the one that appealed for the release of a terminally ill murderer make me sick. His victims deserve the peace of mind that this murderer will rot behind bars.

Parole is also a waste of time. Whatever happened to real justice, Death Penalties or hard labour in prison an sentances which are caried out to the full with no deductions, a year is 12 months NOT 9.

A.Dimech

Jan 5th 2010, 13:56

Sur Cilia
Trid taghzel hija. Jew tridhom jigru mas-saqqajn jisirqu u jivvendikaw irwiehom ghax jafu li mhemmx biza - mid-dlam ghad dawl taqbez ghalihom dawn l-angli.
Jew inkella trid thallas parti mit-taxxa tieghek biex jinqaflu hemm gewwa il-boghod mis-saqqajn. Personalment nahseb biex tikkontrolla priguniri jahdemu fis-socjeta ser tigi tiswa izjjed ghax trid balla puluzija madwarhom + ghalfejn ghandhom johorgu u jaraw barra meta dawn qed jisskontaw sentenza.

Gerard Cassar

Jan 5th 2010, 13:43

Capital punishment will not solve the number of crimes even murders.
Whoever commits a murder it is either trough vengeance in that case the criminal will not reflect on the punishment. Those who commit murder through planning do it because they think they will not be caught *Example Karen Grech murder" and others.
Those who shoot when comitting some crime they shoot on the spur of the moment, hence they don't reflect on the capital punishment.
Who commits a crime cold bloddedly does not care about the punisment.
The opinion of many, of the large majority, is that capital punishment does not solve anything.
It would even add to the seriousness of the crime by being more careful not to be caught.

Eric Camilleri

Jan 5th 2010, 13:30

George Busuttil - Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl ! If only you could dedicate a fraction of your time helping out the victims of criminals. Instead of helping the victims you portray a picture that locked up criminals should on the contrary be holy ? And to add insult to injury, as I have stated other times, I am disgusted at the sensationalism some TV producers seek to gain by giving prime time exposure to the criminals that are locked up in prison. On none of these programs have I seen any galant presenter ask clearly on TV what death, torture, damage, suffering, pain and never ending anguish they brought about on their victims and relatives, which includes children. How dare an organisation representative like Mid-Dlam ghad Dawl come up with calling anyone DAFT because an opinion is expressed outside their "green-do-good-fairytale-world". Mr Busuttil SOCIETY DOES NOT WANT YOUR PAROLE and is against letting loose the pitbulls on the excuse of parole ! Now let's support our Police and ensure the criminals are caught and LOCKED.

C.Cilia

Jan 5th 2010, 13:21

@K.Vassallo

do not make assumptions of what scenarios i have been in and not. You do not know me so do not speak about me!!!!

What I was saying is practically the same but with a little bit more reasoning. What is the sense in sending someone for example 50 years in prison and the community is paying taxes to keep him in there????? Would it not be more fair for the community to send this person to 50 years in prison but while he is in there he does unpaid work to help the community. That is giving something back and not staying in a cell for 50 years fed from the population tax! Wouldn't the person feel the points you mentioned too?? But at least the community is having something back!! If I was a victim of a crime I would prefer to see the person who did the crime locked up and working for nothing rather then thinking of me going to work and finance his food etc etc from my salary by means of taxes!!!!

M Farrugia

Jan 5th 2010, 13:14

@C Cilia, min ma ikunx imgarrab bħalek jitkellem mod u min ikun imgarrab jitkellem mod ieħor Jiena ma nixtieq deni lil ħadd imma ninsab cert li l-miguh ghajma jghid. Immagina xi hadd ikun ilu igemma xi haga għal meta jirtira mix-xoghol u b'kapriċċ ta xi hadd forsi ghad-droga, loghob tal-azzard, xorb , nisa jew mitt oggett iehor jidġol f'dar u kull ma kellu isiru suf. Jiena naqbelk li min jinqabad jieħu il-kastig li haqqu halli b'hekk forsi jitghallem. Kif u x'fatta hija haga oħra. Hemm bzonn li l-poplu jigi protett min dawn il-kriminali li ghal xi whud huma imsikenn

Anthony Falzon

Jan 5th 2010, 12:25

Sur mid - dlamm ghad dawl, il kriminalita naqset ghax inqabdu aktar kriminali u hemm aktar hallelin kriminali il habs, ghalek naqas is serq, u mhux ghax waqqajna il habs u ghamilnih ghalqa.

J Farrugia

Jan 5th 2010, 12:22

@ George Busuttil dot try to insult the intelligence of the Maltese people. Yes we need bigger prisons to keep these criminals far away from our streets. And we also need the re-introduction of the capital punishment as well. We cannot accept the situation that one can murder and kill as many people at their convenience. We have lunatics roaming our roads in malta. and a prison sentence is not enough for such scum. The capital punishment will solve everything.

K.Vassallo

Jan 5th 2010, 12:02

@C.Cilia
Of course you speak like that because you have never experienced a scenario of what you preach. You assume, convicts will be angels. We'll end up in a state of chaos.
I can understand people who have acquaintences in prison reasoning like that - or people who have never been a victim - you might find that the rest of the people want convicts to pay back with time in prison, so they will learn that
(1) Life is short and they have wasted a good part of it behind bars
(2) Society does not allow people to mess around
(3) You take responsibility
(4) If you cannot do the time - dont do the crime

What you people claim that has had no postive effects and did not reduce crime, we claim that even more crime rates would be floating around had this not been the case. Yes prison is a detterent. I could easily start doing illegal things, but I dont - because I cannot do the time.

If on the other hand you claim they come out even hardend, well we then need to increase the time they spend in, and come out as frail old-timers.

C.Cilia

Jan 5th 2010, 11:41

100% agree with Mr.George Busutill. It is sensless to keep putting people behind bars and the law abiding citizen pays taxes to keep them there. Who is gaining? No one! If instead people are made to pay for their mistakes by giving something back to the country....then that is what I call a fair situation!!! We really need many change s in this country!!

Joe Sammut (Ta' Harrbat)

Jan 5th 2010, 11:39

@ Alexander Azzopardi


Hekk kienet sa tmiem is-sena l-ohra siehbi, imma l-HSBC biex jiffrankaw fuq l-ispejjez tas-sigurta` tal-Cash-in-Transit (CIT), kienu ghadhom kemm waqqfu din il-procedure li semmejt!

Ghaldaqstant, mur obsor li l-informazzjoni dwar traggit/rotta, kontenut tal-van tas-sigurta`, u dettalji ohra mhumiex 'inside-job' information-leakage!

Jekk il-kriminal huwa krejativ u inventiv, l-istess hemm bzonn li jkunu l-investigaturi tal-Pulizija, mhux jibqghu mazzrati ma` protocols ta' procedura investigattivi antiki ta' zmien id-dlam!

Dwar 'parole' ghal habsin: jekk mhemmx strutturi INTERI u ESTERNI ghal 'rehabilitation', ghalxejn toqghodu tppriedkaw qiskom xi qaddisin samaritani twajba dwarha din. Irid jittkarrek il-Gvern centrali b'appogg mill-Opposizzjoni w il-Knisja. Il-'mallaise' tas-socjeta' Maltija hija li bosta mill-kriminali MAQFULA huma mill-'lower income bracket' u 'inner harbour area'. Filwaqt li l-briganti l-kbar tal-flus jibqghu barra.

U minflok sentenza sospiza, ghaliex ma jinghatax xi doza qawwija 'community service? Hawn tant toroq u nhawi mahmuga mifnijien b'toqob u skart, kieku pupila tigi Malta b'chain-gang ala Alabama Correction Service kieku tithaddem sistema hekk.

EJ Formosa

Jan 5th 2010, 11:25

@ George Busuttil
Reading your contribution would make one think that you're the GOOD and the rest ( c. 98% of Malta) are "daft".
Dear Sir, One should be more respectful to other people's opinion!

George Busuttil

Jan 5th 2010, 11:04

Whoever thinks that bigger prisons are a solution must be daft. This had been tried almost everywhere else and it has not stopped crime. It is clear that the prison system has failed society. This does not mean that dangerour people should be allowed on the streets but it means that a prison sentence should only be meted out to dangerous criminals surely a very small mionority in our prison.
What we need at the moment is for the introduction of parole to be speeded up so that some of the current prisoners will be helped overcome their problems and get on with a productive life.
While we are hearing from official circles that crime rate is going down (31% in the Valletta district alone) the prison is bursting at its seams with more that 560 prisoners. Something is not right.

George Busuttil
General Secretary
Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl Foundation

Alexander Azzopardi

Jan 5th 2010, 10:54

sa fejn naf jien b ammont kbir bhal dak mhux ikollom karozza tal puluzija / suldati maghom ???

w.scicluna

Jan 5th 2010, 10:33

I feel sorry for the person who owns the scooter in the photo...I bet any damage caused has to come out of his own pocket as our dear insurances are exerting a monopoly and will not insure motorcycles fully comprehensive. Dear Malta welcome to 2010...oh wait! We're still stuck in the 1950's!

Miguel Micallef

Jan 5th 2010, 10:06

Simple answer really, they're just not interested.

It's not going to net them any more money, on the contrary, they might loose a lot!!

Jo Abel

Jan 5th 2010, 09:48

??? Co-ordinated or Coincidence ??? that there was a more "successful" but apparantly similarly planned and orchestrated armed robbery on the same day in the village of Gemenos, near Aubagne in the the South of France yesterday.

J. Falzon

Jan 5th 2010, 09:18

I fully agree. No suspended sentences for such crimes, PLEASE !!

A. Mizzi

Jan 5th 2010, 09:13

Whilst wishing luck to the police force with their investigation and apprehension of culprits, why doesn't the same zeal in investigation be used when residences are robbed?

Having gone through such an experience all I was asked is if I had any suspects when the Police could easily have an indication on possible perpetuators especially on the frequency of thefts within the same area and "well known" shady characters who could be investigated.

Why do the victims have to point out who the Police are to investigate and the Police do not take the initiative?

Paul Barrett

Jan 5th 2010, 09:06

Well done the Police, let us hope that they have the right people and can prove it in Court.

@ J Oatmon - It would appear that there is a case for a larger prison, indeed it could employ more people as well as keep the bad people off the street. The only drawback is that it is us that end up paying the enormous costs to keep people in prison whereas a suspended sentence costs us nothing.

J Oatmon

Jan 5th 2010, 08:19

If the police recover cartridge cases then they may be able to get finger prints or DNA evidence to connect the crime to the shooters. These gun toting robbers who endanger innocent lives, can then be locked safely away for a very long time (not the usual suspended sentence please!).

My question is why does Malta not apply to the EU for funds, to build new much bigger 'state of the art' prison and law courts - at least double the size of the existing facilities? Then the daft 'suspended sentences' can be reduced, and real career criminals locked away to protect the public?