Teenagers own up to theft to turn over a new leaf

Two teenagers who were caught red-handed stealing from MCAST in Paola owned up to another theft during interrogation “because they wanted to turn over a new leaf”.

A 17-year-old and his friend Christian Debono, 18, both from Fgura this morning pleaded guilty to stealing a compressor and a winch from MCAST in Paola.

Police sources said the teenagers were seen breaking the school’s lock by a security guard. The guard got another lock, locked the young men inside the school and called the police.

The teenagers pleaded guilty to stealing a number of items from a house in Fgura last year and Mr Debono also pleaded guilty to relapsing.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud told the court that the two teenagers had admitted to the theft from the house out of their own free will as they wanted to leave their old life behind them.

Magistrate Silvio Meli placed the teenagers under probation for two years after taking into consideration their particular circumstances and their unfortunate backgrounds.