Salesgirls outwit thieves

Latvian born Karlis Meirs, 21, was yesterday convicted to five years imprisonment over his involvement in a theft from Sliema in May 2011.

Perry Thomas Bilsborrow, who in separate proceedings admitted his involvement in one of the thefts, took the witness stand in the case against Meirs. He admitted that he knew the accused after the two met at the Detox Centre. 

Meirs had told them how he had broken a window at the Belgravia Auction Gallery and stole four firearms.

On 16 May 2011, Bilsborrow and Meirs went to Classic Jewellers in Sliema where Bilsborrow lifted the accused on his shoulder so he could cut the CCTV cables.

The two attempted to smash a glass panel on the side of the shop but the reinforced glass did not break. The two abandoned their plans and went back to their residence. 

The morning after they returned to the Sliema Strand and waited for the salesgirls to arrive and open the shutter.

They had agreed Bilsborrow was to close the shutter behind them while the accused stole the jewellery.

After the salesgirls opened the shutter the thieves tried to get in but found a second glass door in their way. The salesgirls refused to open the door for them and the theft was once again called off.

After giving up on stealing from Classic Jewellers, the two men walked by the shop Nouvelle Idee and decided to rob it. However, Bilsborrow had second thoughts and pulled out of the planned theft. He continued walking to their apartment from were he was later arrested.

While giving evidence in court, the salesgirls explained how prior to the attempted theft, two men had tried to sell a ring at their shop.

The girls informed them they did not buy jewellery. On the day of the attempt, two of the salesgirls were having a coffee before work. They recognised the two men who were on a bench across the road. They became suspicious when they realised the men were wearing gloves, jackets and hats on a warm day.

After raising the shutter the girls saw the two men approach the shop so they closed the glass door and called the police.

Claire Valastro, who works at Nouvelle Idee explained to the court what transpired after Meirs entered her shop. Wearing a balaclava and shouting 'this is a robbery and not a joke", Meirs held a knife to her throat and demanded cash.

She refused to go into the storeroom after Meirs told her he would lock her there. He asked her for tape to tie her but seeing people outside the shop Valastro screamed for help.

Meiers was later arrested from the same apartment where Bilsborrow was arrested earlier.