Man jailed over Gozo theft spree targeting supermarket, phone shop and catering outlet

A man who made off with nearly €1,000 worth of champagne and a haul of expensive knives during a week-long theft spree in Gozo has been jailed for two years.

Romanian national Marian Lucian Apostol, aged 38, admitted to a string of offences carried out in the third week of September 2026.
Shops all around the island were targeted during the theft spree, including a supermarket in Għajnsielem, an electronics store in Victoria, and a catering establishment in Xewkija.

The first theft was carried out on September 21, when Apostol and his accomplices targeted Ta' Dirjanu Supermarket.

Between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, the group made off with bottles of premium champagne worth nearly €1,000.

Days later, the gang set upon Eyad Phone in Victoria, attempting to break into the premises during the early hours of September 27. Nothing was stolen, but damage was caused to a window frame and its railing.

Hours later, the group struck again, this time targeting Spiteri Catering in Xewkija.

CCTV footage showed two men crossing the road shortly before 4am, with one of them using a crowbar to force the door open. The pair were later seen carrying away 19 expensive knives in an orange basket. The knives which were stolen had been marked by the robbers a few days earlier. Two individuals had visited the shop, browsed the knives for some time, and left without buying anything. 

Proceedings against Apostol had been split off from those involving his two co-accused. 

Handing down judgment, Magistrate Jean Paul Grech remarked that the court could not overlook either the seriousness of the offences or the value of the items stolen.

"It is quite clear that the thefts were clearly planned beforehand," the magistrate said.

Although Apostol had entered an unconditional guilty plea during the compilation of evidence, the court held that the gravity of the offences warranted an effective prison term. The court ultimately handed down a two-year jail sentence.

Apostol was also ordered to pay €312 to Agius Services Ltd, representing one-third of the value of the champagne stolen, within three months of his release.

He was further ordered to foot one-third of the costs of the criminal inquiry, amounting to €763.

The court also issued a three-year restraining order in favour of the victims and barred Apostol from entering or approaching the places the men had targeted.