A routine Sunday dive at Cathedral Cave ended with divers pinning down an alleged repeat thief in the Xwejni area near Marsalforn, Gozo.
The drama unfolded on 30 August at Wied il-Għasri on Gozo's north coast, a popular spot with divers thanks to the cave and its clear waters. While the group was in the water, a Polish diver spotted a man reaching through an open window of their van and pulling out a basket. Shouts went up, the man bolted, but the divers caught him, held him and directed police to their location.
The suspect was identified in court as Robert Farrugia, a 56-year-old from Żurrieq in Malta. Appearing before Magistrate Jean Paul Grech at the Gozo Magistrates' Court the next day, he admitted attempted theft — and also admitted possessing keys or tools suited to forcing locks despite previous convictions for theft or handling stolen property, plus carrying a knife without a licence. The court factored in his early guilty pleas but noted his record, handing down an eight-month prison sentence suspended for four years and a €116.47 fine.
Local tourism bodies believe this wasn't a one-off. The Gozo Tourism Association described Farrugia as a suspected serial offender thought to have been targeting divers' vehicles at several coastal locations around the island, and praised the divers for their vigilance.
The association has now stepped up its push for CCTV at major dive sites, arguing that better security infrastructure at remote coastal spots would protect visitors and locals alike and shore up Gozo's image as a safe, welcoming diving destination.
Why it matters for travellers: thefts from cars at dive and beach spots are a known nuisance on Mediterranean islands, and Gozo's most attractive sites tend to be quiet, unattended coves. The practical lessons are simple — keep windows shut and nothing visible in the vehicle, don't leave passports or electronics behind while you're in the water, and travel in a group where someone can stay near the car. It's also worth knowing that police on the islands respond quickly to reports and that local operators look out for visiting divers, as this incident showed.