Teenager faces ‘cut and paste’ theft charges

A serial shoplifter who only helps himself to razor blades and shaving foam was back in court yesterday charged with stealing from six pharmacies across the island.

Such was his fixation with stealing the same items that Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit said that the charges against him were a matter of “copy and paste” from previous cases.

Paul Gauci Borda, 19, of Ġzira, denied stealing the blades and shaving foam worth about €300 from pharmacies in Tarxien, Żebbuġ, Qormi, Mġarr, Żabbar and Fgura.

The thefts happened between, February 28 and the end of last month.

Legal aid lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores asked for bail but the prosecuting officer objected on grounds that the accused was not trustworthy. Paging through the criminal record, Magistrate Anthony Vella noted that Mr Gauci Borda had a number of convictions for theft and also had a pending case before him. He agreed that the accused was not trustworthy.

Mr Gauci Borda was remanded in custody.