Youths admit to Birkirkara café break-in

Three youths have been placed on probation after being convicted of a night-time break-in at a cafe in Birkirkara.

Shalon Abela, 23, from Qormi, Nathan Azzopardi, 19, from Santa Lucija and a third youth from Qormi who cannot be named on account of the fact that he is 15 years old, pleaded guilty to attempted theft, aggravated by value, time, means and violence.

The youths were arrested by officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit during the early hours of 11 May, when they were caught red-handed stealing from a Birkirkara cafeteria. The police had been informed that a break in was in progress at the Tre Colonne Café in Triq Tumas Fenech, opposite the Birkirkara local council offices at around 1:00am. Two Rapid Intervention Unit vehicles sped to the scene and spotted suspicious vehicle parked in front of the shop, unlocked. Entering through the front door of the shop, which had been forced open, police found the three youths helping themselves to the contents of the cash register. Lock picking tools were also reportedly found at the scene. The would-be thieves had cleaned out some €400 from the till by the time the police arrived.

Abela, a car wash employee, pleaded guilty. The court said in this case prison would not be the optimum solution, instead placing the would-be thief on probation for three years and ordering him to complete 100 hours of community service. “I'm giving you probation because after seeing your file I think you can make progress,” the magistrate observed.

Azzopardi, who told the court that he worked as a deliveryman, also pleaded guilty. The court sentenced him to one year on probation, explaining that he must be careful to avoid further trouble with the law. “You have a clean police conduct up to now. Keep it that way,” magistrate Vella said.

The 15-year-old was also spared prison and placed on probation for a year in view of his age and “relatively clean” criminal record. “Don't come here again,” the magistrate admonished. “You're still young, take care of your life.”

Lawyers Dean Hili, Marion Camilleri and Alan Zerafa were defence counsel to the accused. Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted.