A gold locket containing the picture of an elderly woman’s dead son was allegedly stolen from around her neck on Monday morning as she was walking along a street in Paola, a court heard yesterday.

We have seen a whole wave of this type of crime since the price of gold has gone up

The 68-year-old woman was in tears for having lost her beloved necklace since it had high sentimental value, Police Inspector Carlos Cordina said during the arraignment of Reno Azzopardi, 27, who was charged with stealing it.

Unfortunately, the inspector said, it was unlikely that the woman would get her locket back since it was no longer in the possession of Mr Azzopardi, who had a drug addiction problem.

“We have seen a whole wave of this type of crime since the price of gold has gone up. And the victims are usually vulnerable people, like the elderly,” Police Cordina told Magistrate Anthony Vella.

The magistrate heard Mr Azzopardi, of Cospicua, deny stealing gold necklaces from three women – aged 36, 68 and 77 – and a gold chain from a 77-year-old man.

He also pleaded not guilty to injuring two of the victims as he snatched their necklace off their neck and ran off with their property.

Mr Azzopardi was also charged with breaking into a Żejtun house and stealing a laptop, two digital cameras, a mobile phone and other items.

Mr Azzopardi was remanded in police custody.

Police Inspectors Carlos Cordina and Jurgen Vella prosecuted while lawyer Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused.