Two Romanian men were today charged in court with stealing 17 mobile phones and a tablet over the past month.

Many of the mobile phones are believed to have been stolen from bus passengers.

Police received a tip-off which let them to a guest house where the two men, Cezar Mihalache, 53, and Ionel Micailovici, 58, were arrested.

They denied stealing the items from various parts of Malta between 4 July and 24 July.

Mr Mihailovici was charged separately with another theft from Sliema as well as relapsing.

A Romanian woman, Ana Iancu, 52 was also charged and admitted to handling stolen property and was given a 13-month jail term suspended for two years.

The men were remanded in custody.

Inspectors Jonathan Ransley and Jason Sultana prosecuted.