Two Italian men were arrested on Thursday night in connection with the theft of a van from Marsascala just minutes prior.

Police said in a statement that officers at the Marsascala police station received a report that a Toyota Dyna van had been stolen from Triq ix-Xnejn Abjad in the same locality at around 10pm.

Moments later, police on patrol noted the same van in Triq San Anard in Tarxien and stopped it.

The two people who were in the van – a 24-year-old Italian man who lives in Xghajra and a 52-year-old Italian man who lives in Marsascala – were arrested.

They are being held at the police lock-up and are expected to be charged in the coming days.