Two plainclothes police officers who spotted three suspected pickpockets in Valletta followed them to Marsaxlokk to try and catch them in the act, a court heard on Friday.

Their efforts were rewarded on Friday as a court sent the three men, who admitted to charges, behind bars.

Marian Tenescu, 37, a construction worker, Theodor Dumitrescu, 50, a driver and Vasilica-Ionel Harabagiu, 36, all Romanian-born, were spotted on Friday by two plainclothes officers on duty in Valletta, who had been tipped off about their identity on the strength of confidential information.

Following the three suspects all the way to Marsaxlokk, the officers kept close watch as the suspects sidled up to unwary passers by, attempting to rob them of their possessions.

At one point, the unsuspecting pickpockets had even approached one of the plainclothes officers who had promptly distanced himself from the men.

Although during Thursday’s surveillance the three were not caught in the act, CCTV footage retrieved from a local branch of a bank in Marsaxlokk dating back to the morning of May 20, provided the necessary link to incriminate the men.

The same three suspects were captured on footage attempting to withdraw money using the credit card from a wallet they had stolen that same morning in Marsaxlokk.

The wallet had contained cash, personal documents and other possessions.

Following their arrest, the three were charged on Friday with theft of the wallet and attempted theft by making use of the stolen credit card.

Mr Dumitrescu alone was further charged with being a recidivist.

All three pleaded guilty and were each condemned to an effective jail term, which stood at 6 months for Mr Dumitrescu and 5 months each for the other two accused.

Inspectors Daryl Borg and Jeffrey Scicluna prosecuted.
Lawyers Alfred Abela, Lennox Vella and Marisa Mifsud were defence counsel.