A Syrian man was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the theft of a bag from St George's Bay yesterday afternoon. 

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef charged Mohammed Samar, 47, who lives at the Marsa Open Centre, with stealing the bag containing cash and an iPhone 4 to the detriment of an Italian tourist who were relaxing on the St Julian's beach yesterday. 

The inspector told Magistrate Antonio Vella how Mr Samar was caught in the act as he stole the bag. He was seen by two tourists, a German and a Spaniard, who were swimming on the same beach. He said the tourists approached the Italian woman, who was sunbathing with her boyfriend, and she realised that her bag that was on her beach towel behind her had been stolen. 

The tourists chased the Syrian man towards the Institute for Tourism Studies where they found him speaking to another man, who they said was black. When they told him " Stop there the police are on their way", the black man fled with considerable speed. None of the stolen items were found on the Syrian man but the handbag and the purse without the cash were found on the ground behind a car. 

In objecting to the granting of bail, Inspector Micallef said a strong message had to be sent against such crimes. Since the beginning of summer, the police already compiled a list of more than 50 thefts from beaches and most of them were not being solved. "These crimes are creating havoc," he said, adding that Mr Samar had already been convicted for similar crimes. 

Magistrate Vella refused his request for bail, since the man had no fixed address and did not offer the required guarantees at law. He was remanded in custody. The case will continue on September 16.

Lawyer Martin Fenech represented the man.