Updated at 1.30pm with arraignment

A group of 12 people from Georgia have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into a string of robberies, the police said on Friday.

In a statement, the police said the alleged robberies had occurred over a lengthy period across a number of localities on the island.

The first of the 12 was on Friday remanded in custody after he was accused of being part of the gang of burglars who targeted residences.

Elguja Bzikadze, 30, appeared before magistrate Monica Vella accused of conspiracy to commit crimes in Malta and stealing jewellery from houses in Balzan, St Paul’s Bay and Mosta.

Inspectors Lydon Zammit and Christina Delia described the man as forming part of a “circle of criminality.” He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody.

Since the man said he suffered from infectious disease, the court ordered an immediate medical examination so that Corradino Correctional Facility could take the appropriate measures.

Back in 2017, the Times of Malta had reported how more than half of all crimes reported on the island were thefts.

Thieves seem to favour tourist hotspot St Julian’s, which had registered a crime rate more than five times the national average at the time.