Car-wash thief handed his second probation order in three days

A man from Birzebbugia who was handed a probation order for a late-night theft on Tuesday, has today received a probation order today for an almost identical crime.

21 year old Patrick Pullicino from Birzebbugia was arraigned by Police Inspector Josric Mifsud before magistrate Neville Camilleri this afternoon, charged with having stolen €355 from the Lourdes Service Station in Zabbar at around 1 am on Sunday - causing €140 worth of damage in the process- before breaking into premises belonging to JCC Enterprises in Għaxaq and stealing a further €50.

Pullicino had already been handed a three-year probation order on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to stealing €950 from car wash machines in Fgura on Sunday night. In view of this, he was initially also charged with breaching the conditions of his previous release, however that charge was withdrawn when lawyer Angie Muscat pointed out that the theft he was being charged with today had actually preceded Tuesday’s.

Today, the accused also admitted to this incident of theft.

The court handed down a two-year probation order to run concurrently with the previous probation order, meaning that a breach of the conditions of either order would be considered a breach of both.

Lawyers Angie Muscat and Franco Debono appeared for the accused.