The high price of gold has caused an increase in jewellery theft, a police inspector said in court today.

Inspector Carlos Cordina was speaking during the arraignment of Reno Azzopardi, 27 of Cospicua, who was accused pf with stealing gold necklaces from four people, three of whom were elderly. He was also accused of stealing a laptop, two digital cameras,a mobile phone and other items from a Zejtun residence.

Inspector Cordina said that the accused had a drug problem. He said that at the moment there was a wave of such theft of gold items because of their high price. Vulnerable people were often the victims.

He pointed out that apart from the value of the gold, elderly people also attached sentimental value to their jewellery. In fact, one of the victims had a picture of her deceased son attached to the necklace which was stolen from her.

The accused allagedly pulled off the necklaces from his targets and ran off.

He is also accused of slightly injuring two of the victims.