Jailed for stealing safe full of cash

A thief caught red-handed with a safe containing some €64,000 in cash and cheques, which he had just stolen, was yesterday jailed for four years.

Jeffrey Busuttil, 35, of Mqabba, was caught by police at Ħandaq industrial estate with a stolen van containing the safe on Sunday at around 2 a.m. Police Inspector Keith Arnaud told the court the safe contained some €2,000 in cash and a further €62,000 in cheques. It had been stolen from a warehouse belonging to Bartoli Brothers Ltd.

Mr Busuttil, who sat in the dock wearing a dirty, beige top with cigarette burns on it, admitted to stealing both the safe and the van and relapsing.

Inspector Arnaud said Mr Busuttil’s criminal record was what it was and that he had cooperated with the police, adding that the items have been returned to their owners.

Legal aid lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores said the amount stolen was not large, the items had been returned and his client was admitting at a very early stage of the proceedings.

Magistrate Vella jailed Mr Busuttil after taking into consideration the circumstances of the case.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted.