Two brothers from Ħamrun were yesterday charged with stealing more than €2,300 in cash and cigarettes from a takeaway food outlet in Msida on June 19.

Daryl Mark Pace, 21, and his younger brother Brandon, 19, were also accused by police inspector Jason Francis Sultana of handling stolen items.

In addition Daryl Mark Pace was charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term.

Sources said the accused entered the shop in J. Borg Street by breaking a number of louvers of a side window in the early morning on Thursday.

About €150 from the cash register was reported missing, together with the cigarettes and some more money from a vending machine,.

Brandon Pace, who pleaded guilty after giving himself up, was given an 18-month jail term suspended for three years by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

His older brother did not admit the charges and was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,500 and on condition that he signs in at the Ħamrun police station every day.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused.