A Syrian man was remanded in custody yesterday after pleading not guilty to stealing a bag from St George’s Bay on Thursday 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 was relaxing on beach in St Julian’s with her boyfriend.

The prosecuting officer told Magistrate Antonio Vella Mr Samar was caught in the act. He was spotted by two tourists, a German and a Spaniard, swimming at the same beach. He said the tourists informed the Italian woman, who was sunbathing at the time, and she realised that her bag, which was on the beach towel behind her, was missing.

The tourists told the police they saw the thief put the bag underneath his T-shirt before fleeing towards the Institute for Tourism Studies. They chased him and found him speaking to another man, who they said was black. When they told the alleged thief “Stop there, the police are on their way”, the black man fled at considerable speed.

None of the stolen items were found on the accused but the handbag and the purse, minus €30 that were inside, were found on the ground behind a car.

Objecting to bail, Mr Micallef said a strong message had to be sent with regard to such crimes. Since the beginning of summer, the police had already received over 50 reports of thefts from beaches and most of them remained unsolved.

“These crimes are creating havoc,” he said, adding that Mr Samar had already been convicted for similar offences.

Magistrate Vella refused bail on grounds that the accused had no fixed address and did not offer the required guarantees at law. He was remanded in custody.

The case continues on September 16.

Lawyer Martin Fenech represented the man.