A thief did not go unnoticed by police when he pleaded to them for help after he climbed a wall following a robbery at the Vittoriosa local council, to discover he was hanging over a drop of five storeys.
The incident happened late on Friday night when 41-year-old Paul Degabriele from Fgura, broke into the offices with another two unknown accomplices after tampering with the CCTV camera to avoid being recognised.
However, a policeman on foot patrol upset their plans and asked for reinforces. The men fled in different directions and it was at that point that Degabriele climbed over the wall and started shouting and pleading with the police to heave him down.
The 41-year-old unemployed man was accused of having stolen Lm277, of causing wilful damage amounting to under Lm100 to the detriment of the government and accused of committing the theft from the Vittoriosa local council offices together with another two unidentified men.
Degabriele pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. He returned the stolen money and paid for the damage. The accused was given a two-year jail term, suspended for four years.
Magistrate Miriam Hayman presided over the court.
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