Gangs made more than 250 thefts from vulnerable tourists travelling on the buses over the past four months, a court heard yesterday. Cash, wallets, purses, passports and other items were stolen during the pickpocketing sprees.
Both the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the US State Department issued warnings to citizens last month.
In the warning issued in early July, London reported incidents of pickpocketing had risen drastically since May, adding that the thieves were targeting “crowded afternoon buses”, particularly in Sliema, St Julian’s and Paceville.
Later in the month, the US State Department said: “Since May 2013, there has been a high number of pickpocketing incidents on main bus routes, especially the 13 and 12 from Sliema to Valletta and the routes between St Julian’s and Paceville. Thieves are targeting crowded afternoon buses.”
As four Romanians confessed to committing 22 such thefts, Police Inspector Michael Mallia said the group told officers interrogating them that middle-aged and elderly individuals were targeted because they were more vulnerable.
Stefan Razvan-Aurel, 32, a painter; Marian Ciucisan, 51, a carpenter; Alexandra Buzatu, 32, a salesgirl; and Stefan Marius, 34, a baker, pleaded guilty to a number of thefts since July 8.
Legal aid lawyer Patrick Valentino told the court that despite his advice to deny the charges, his clients wanted to admit them. Magistrate Giovanni Grixti asked the accused twice if they wanted to confirm their guilty plea, given the chance they would be jailed. They replied they wanted to plead guilty.
In submissions on punishment, the prosecuting officer said the thieves operated very discreetly and were difficult to trace. He asked the magistrate to consider the “extreme damage” and fear to society such actions caused.
Mr Mallia said that more than 250 thefts had been investigated by the police since May.
Dr Valentino said it was unfair for him to burden the group with all the thefts and was absurd to consider moral damages as the law did not provide for such.
The magistrate put off judgment for Monday and remanded the accused in custody.