Man under house arrest charged with theft

An 18-year old who was supposed to be under house arrest and who was yesterday accused of stealing two cars, one of them a Mercedes, told the court he had committed the thefts because he was threatened.

Daniel Lanzon, of Cospicua, was charged with stealing a Mercedes Benz from Zebbug to the detriment of Raymond Zammit and a Skoda Felicia to the detriment of Hector Spiteri.

Lanzon was also charged with stealing tools from a car in Qormi and with attempted theft from the Waldorf showroom and from J & M Micallef Showroom in Zebbug. All thefts took place at night.

He was further charged with damaging the cars he stole as well as showrooms from which they were stolen and with damaging a Volkswagen Polo and using false number plates.

Lanzon was finally charged with breaching the conditions of a conditional discharge.

Police Inspector Jesmond Borg testified that Lanzon was under house arrest and he was not meant to leave home when the thefts were committed.

Lanzon said he had been enticed to commit a Lm20,000 theft but he refused. He said the person who had enticed him to commit the theft had approached him and asked payment of Lm450 for refusing to commit the theft.

Lanzon said the person had told him he would "be wasting a revolver on him" if he failed to comply, and as he feared for his and his family's safety, he had carried out the thefts.

He was remanded in custody. The case continues. Inspectors Maria Stella Cutajar and Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.