Burglars yesterday helped themselves to items from six houses and shops, among them a jeweller’s, after climbing down into a back yard behind the properties in Mosta.

The haul from the jeweller’s outlet in Constitution Street was substantial, the police said.

To gain access to this shop the burglars removed bricks from a wall adjoining an empty property which they had entered after scaling down the yard wall using a ladder.

The burglary took place sometime during the early hours of the morning. It was discovered by the owner of one of the houses who turned up to check on his property at about 8 a.m. as he does every day.