Two Italian teenagers were yesterday charged with stealing an elderly woman’s handbag in an action committed “during a moment of folly”, according to an inspector.

The two young men, aged 16 and 17 from Palermo, pleaded guilty to stealing the bag, containing about €20 in cash, from the woman who is in her 70s during a snatch and run in Sliema on New Year’s Day at about 5.30pm.

Police Inspector Jonathan Ransley said the boys had committed the crime in Blanche Huber Street, at the corner with Sir Adrian Dingli Street, during a “moment of folly” and had returned the bag.

Magistrate Francesco Depas-quale told the boys they should be ashamed of themselves for targeting an elderly woman.

This was a very serious offence and had it not been for their age and clean conduct sheet, he would have sent them to jail.

The magistrate sentenced them to a six-month prison term, suspended for four years.

Lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar represented the teenagers.