Two young men were placed under probation and a third was jailed for stealing from three apartment blocks in the summer of 2007.

Reuban D'Amato, 24, Silvio Camilleri, 23 and another man, who cannot be named because he was a minor at the time of the crime, all had serious drug problems and in fact stole electronic equipment to fuel their habits.

The court heard that Mr Camilleri, together with the minor, had broken into an apartment block in central Paceville and stole two computers and a photo camera in September two years ago.

They forced the apartment door open but failed to notice the security cameras on every floor of the block. The stills taken by the cameras clearly showed them breaking into the flat and making off with the loot.

Only a week later, Mr D'Amato and the minor stole two mobile phones from a block of flats situated just around the corner from the first apartment.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard that Mr Camilleri had stolen items from another apartment block a week after the second theft.

The court, taking into consideration the fact that Mr D'Amato has a clean police record and that the minor has a relatively clean record, decided that a prison term was not ideal. They were put on probation for three years each.

The magistrate said the two young men should be given a chance to help themselves kick their drug habit and attend a rehabilitation programme.

However, when considering Mr Camilleri's case, the circumstances were a little different, the court said, adding that he had already been convicted nine times by the age of 23. Although he had been given various chances to reform, such as periods of probation and conditional discharges, he never changed his ways and went on to commit other crimes.

Taking this into consideration, she jailed him for three years and eight months.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Magri and Carlo Ellul prosecuted.