Updated 1.06pm

Two alleged jewellery thieves have been arrested and charged after they tried to pawn off items reported stolen in a €60,000 Swieqi heist.

Police say the men are believed to be the burglars behind a Friday morning theft from Triq il-Kwartin, during which thieves stole a safe from a private residence before making a getaway in a Ford Transit van.

The safe contained €60,000 worth of jewellery.

Hours after the Swieqi theft took place, police received information that two men had visited a jewellery store in Valletta and tried to sell items among those reported stolen.

CCTV footage led officers from the criminal investigations department to a 27-year-old man from Ħamrun, Juanito Jimenez. A Ford Transit van registered in his name, which police say was the same one used in the theft, was parked outside his home. Inside it were items police believe were used to carry out the theft.

The man was arrested and hauled in for questioning on Friday evening. On Saturday, police arrested a second man, 27-year-old Ramsey Farrugia and from Żebbuġ.

Both men pleaded not guilty to charges when they were arraigned in court on Sunday morning. Jimenez was also accused of violating bail conditions in three different cases.

The pair were denied bail.  

Inspector Roderick Attard told a court that another alleged accomplice has also been arrested.  

Lawyers Amadeus Cachia and Franco Debono appeared for Jimenez, while Arthur Azzopardi represented Farrugia.  

Magistrate Gabriella Vella presided.  

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