ACCUSATIONS that Customs inspectors regularly steal goods imported by unsuspecting residents were laid by an alleged victim of such a theft this week.

The angry woman contacted this newspaper after demands that Customs investigate her claims were ignored. She believes she was the victim of a regular scam practised by inspectors who steal goods which catch their fancy and allow buyers to believe the item was lost on its way to Bermuda or never sent.

Messages left for assistant Collector of Customs Cindy Pearman were not returned, however it is believed that her superior, Winifred Fostine DeSilva ? now on vacation ? has been made aware of the incident.

The alleged victim said she was notified that the green silk dress she had ordered was sent from England on July 4. She heard nothing until almost two months later, when a sealed package stamped by Customs and containing only a broken hanger, was delivered to her door.

"The package had been opened and, quite obviously, the contents had been stolen leaving just the hanger as if to rub salt into the wound," she said. "The package had a Customs stamp of August 23 on it and was signed (by someone with the initials) L.B."

The woman said she passed on the information to a Customs official who was a friend of a friend. The subsequent investigation determined a theft took place however she received no formal apology or explanation about the incident.

"Apparently it was found that the package had indeed been opened by Customs and apparently resealed, but the dress had been stolen in the time that it took to deliver to (my) address."

The woman said she then wrote a letter of complaint to the Collector of Customs which she sent by post and fax, but has had no response nearly a month later.

"I am appalled but not surprised," she wrote in the letter. "I, and friends, have had items 'disappear' before. It is extremely disappointing, frustrating and costly.

"The dress in question had been purchased for ?59 plus ?6.99 post and packaging. I would appreciate your investigation into this incident. I would have preferred to actually have the dress that I had purchased, but under the circumstances would expect a full reimbursement and action to be taken against any members of your staff found stealing this and other such items. With Christmas approaching, I am expecting gifts from my family in the UK and would like your assurance that any parcels sent to me will actually come into my possession, and not someone else's."