A young woman was arrested shortly after an off-duty sergeant major saw her stealing from unattended swimmer’s bags, including her own, yesterday, August 15, 2013, at about 5.30 p.m., in St Thomas Bay.
The young woman was eventually arrested in Triq il-Gardiel, Marsascala, by police officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit, who were on patrol in the vicinity, after the sergeant major forwarded an accurate description of the suspect to the Police General Headquarters’ Control Room. This was the second such case in as many days after a man was arrested by an off-duty sergeant who caught him walking-off with his bag while he swimming in Sliema Bay on August 14, 2013, at about 2 p.m. He was arrigned in Court today and was denied bail. Domenic Mercieca, 33 of Gzira was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to charges of theft and absconding from custody.Inspector Jonathan Ransley explained how the Gzira man was apprehended by an off duty policeman after he stolen the officer's belongings from the beach. Police officer Glenn Carabott and his girlfriend Kristina Vydmantaite were at Fond Ghadir beach in Sliema when the thief made away with they belongings including two mobile phones.
Carabott chased after Mercieca who was apprehended some streets away. Mercieca claimed he had a drug problem and had already followed a rehab programme at San Blas. The accused held he was about to start another rehab programme today, however the Magistrate heard how today's was simply a review visit. Magistrate Miriam Hayman remanded the youth in custody. Lawyer Michael Schriha appeared for the accused.