A 19-year-old man who was caught red-handed trying to steal from an automated petrol pump in Msida was yesterday placed under probation for 18 months.

The man cannot be named by court order because of the consequences the news could have on his father's medical condition. The request was made by defence lawyer Iana Spiteri Bailey and was unopposed by the prosecuting officer, Police Inspector Anthony Portelli.

After taking into consideration the fact that the accused has a clean police record, Magistrate Doreen Clarke placed him on probation for 18 months and banned publication of his name.

The would-be thief was caught by police officers who had just started their night patrols at midnight on Monday when they spotted him at the Regional Service Station, on the Regional Road, trying to break into the cash machine with a hammer.

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