THE police have detained two criminals after they attempted a third robbery in less than 10 days.

 The two men were carrying realistic imitation pistols, as well as false identification.  They were arrested in Marbella whilst attempting to rob a branch of La Caixa bank, having previously robbed two other branches of the same bank, one in the provincial capital of Malaga, and the other in Churriana. Police officers on a routine patrol surprised them in the area of Las Chapas.

Security personnel throughout the region had been on alert for two men matching their descriptions. The robbers, both Italian nationals, had stolen €600 in their first hold-up and a measly €60 during their second. On both occasions they chose not to conceal their identities, so the authorities were on the lookout for the two men, one of whom was bald.  They are currently being held in Malaga’s main police station, where officers are trying to ascertain their full identities, which is proving difficult as neither man is willing to talk. All that is known for certain is that the two men are Italian and have a long history of past offences.