The couple appeared in court. Photo: Matthew MirabelliA homeless pair with a drug problem were behind the theft of a handbag from a car in which the thief was chased by a 12-year-old boy, a court heard yesterday.
Donna Sciberras, 18, a previous resident of the YMCA shelter, had been living in an institute for most of her life and was taken into care from a very early age, Police Inspectors Geoffrey Azzopardi and Sarah Magri said.
Ms Sciberras pleaded guilty to being an accomplice to the theft in Marsa on Wednesday morning.
Magistrate Edwina Grima heard Jean Paul Mifsud from the YMCA testify behind closed doors before placing the teenager on probation for three years.
Malcolm Mercieca, 28, pleaded not guilty to stealing a car on May 13, in Ħamrun, handling stolen property, trying to withdraw money using a stolen credit card, stealing the bag and relapsing.
She had been living in an institute for most of her life and was taken into care from a very early age
The handbag was stolen soon after Doreen Spiteri parked her car outside a retail outlet and popped in to do some shopping, leaving her son in the vehicle.
Soon after, Mr Mercieca reached in, took the bag and ran off, with the boy giving chase, the police alleged in a statement on Wednesday.
Ms Sciberras was with Mr Mercieca during the car and bag thefts, they said.
Eyewitnesses alerted the police who were soon on the scene and arrested the thief.
The boy was escorted to the police stolen by officers where he met his mother who had called to report him missing.
Mr Mercieca did not ask for bail and was remanded in custody.