Airsoft weapons thief handed probation

A 21-year-old youth from Tarxien has been placed on probation for three years after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of euros worth of airsoft guns and ammunition from a store in Fgura.

Brandon Savona pleaded guilty to the theft of airsoft pistols, airsoft rifles and accessories. Savona had been arrested after the shop owner told police that he suspected the man as having robbed him.

Inspector Christina Delia and Inspector Sarah K. Zerafa, prosecuting told magistrate Charmaine Galea that CCTV conclusively identified the accused.

The shopkeeper had found the door to his warehouse forced open and items missing, which were later found at Savona’s home.

Defence lawyer Lennox Vella said that the crime had been one of bravado committed by his client on his birthday.

Savona had a clean criminal record, and no drug problems, said the lawyer. He emphasised that the man’s parents were concerned about their son’s actions and requested the court nominate a probation officer to follow him.

The prosecution agreed with the suggestion, asking the court to impose a probation order of maximum duration.

The magistrate warned him that such crimes carried a maximum punishment of imprisonment for seven years, but after taking into account his clean criminal record, the early admission and the fact that the stolen items had all been returned to their owner, imposed a three-year probation order.