Armed Hold-Up Duo Jailed 22 Years

Picture this: it’s a warm Maltese evening, the sun is setting, and you’re walking down Republic Street in Valletta, the bustling heart of our island. Suddenly, you notice something amiss. The usually lively atmosphere is tense, and the convenience store on the corner, a staple for last-minute essentials, is cordoned off. You approach, and a police officer shakes their head, “Another armed hold-up.”

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Two men, one a 32-year-old from Msida, the other a 37-year-old from Ħamrun, have been making life difficult for convenience store owners and customers alike. Their modus operandi? Armed robberies, targeting these very stores that serve as lifelines for many of us.

The duo, let’s call them X and Y for now, started their crime spree in 2020. They’d strike when least expected, often late at night or early in the morning. X, the younger of the two, would brandish a knife, while Y, the older and seemingly more level-headed, would keep watch. Their targets? Small convenience stores, often family-run, in areas like Msida, Ħamrun, and even as far as Żurrieq.

In one chilling incident, they targeted a store in Msida. The owner, a soft-spoken man in his 50s, was forced to hand over cash at knifepoint. “I’ve known these kids since they were little,” he told us, shaking his head. “I never thought they’d do something like this.”

But the duo’s luck ran out. In a sting operation, police caught them red-handed during an attempted hold-up in Ħamrun. The evidence was irrefutable, and the sentences were severe. X was sentenced to 12 years, while Y, despite his role as the lookout, received 10 years. They’ll spend the next two decades paying for their crimes.

“This sends a strong message,” a police spokesperson told us. “We’re committed to keeping our streets safe, and we won’t tolerate armed robberies. If you’re thinking of doing something like this, think again.”

For the convenience store owners, the sentences brought relief. “It’s not just about the money,” one owner told us. “It’s about the fear they instilled in us, in our customers. Now, we can sleep a little easier.”