An Italian man and a Maltese woman have been arrested after they were caught stealing a bag from an old lady near the San Gwann parish church by an off-duty policeman.

The policeman, PC52 Emanuel Agius, saw the couple in a car that was being driven by the woman and initially believed, because of the commotion, that they had sped off after just missing the woman.

He followed them in his car and after about 60 to 80 metres, saw the man putting a handbag inside his coat. He continued following them until he could block them with his car.

PC Agius arrested the man on the spot and took him to the police station and sent the woman, who he recognised, to the station on foot.

The incident happened at around 9 a.m.

The Italian told the policeman they needed to steal to buy food.

In another incident, burglars were this morning caught red-handed just before breaking into a house in St Monica Street, Paola.

The police went on site after receiving a tip-off and caught one of two men, a 30-year-old from Zurrieq, as he was escaping.

The police caught the second man, a 36-year-old from Marsa, in Zabbar Road, Paola. The man injured himself when jumping from the roof and needed medical assistance.