A 40-year-old man from Birkirkara and a 33-year-old woman from Fgura were arrested on Saturday after they were seen unloading tools from a van that had just been reported stolen.

The police said the van, a Mazda E2200, was reported stolen at the Paola police station by a 40-year-old man at 6am. He said it had been stolen during the night from Triq Dun Ġuzepp Gonzi, Tarxien.

At 7.20am, an off-duty police officer contacted the police control room seeking assistance as he had noted two people unloading tools from a van and acting in a suspicious manner.

Police from the Rapid Intervention Unit and Żejtun district officers went on site - at Triq il-Ħerba corner with Triq Sant’ Emidju, Żejtun, where it was noted that the van was the same that had just been reported stolen.

On seeing the police, one of the people tried to drive the van away but was stopped by the off-duty officer.

The man and the woman were then arrested.

Police investigations are continuing.