A quick thinking security guard locked two thieves in a school they were stealing from and then called the police who caught them red-handed trying to make off with a compressor and a winch.

A 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, and his friend, Christian Debono, 18, both from Fgura on Monday night broke the padlock of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology’s gate in Paola and went straight for the equipment.

The guard saw what happened and installed another padlock, closing the gate, effectively blocking the intruders inside the school, where they were apprehended by the police shortly afterwards, police sources said.

The two teenagers admitted to the school theft and to another theft that occurred in March 2009 from a house in Fgura when a number of household items were taken and then sold.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud, prosecuting, said the two had pleaded guilty because they wanted to turn over a new leaf. They even named a third person involved in the first theft and that person had been arraigned, he added.

Lawyers Martin Fenech and Frank Cassar asked the court to take into consideration the special circumstances of the young men, adding that prison was not an option.

Magistrate Silvio Meli placed them under probation for two years and warned them against breaching the conditions laid down by their probation officers.