Police yesterday.

The Island has suffered 16 robberies in the first quarter of 1999.

That figure is up from just three similar incidents in the same period last year.

And detectives are still investigating five armed robberies all in the last month.

Chief Insp. Carlton Adams, heading the inquiries from the Major Incident Room, revealed a man had been arrested in connection with the handgun raid at Empire Grocery last Saturday.

He said no details of the arrest could be made public.

The top officer confirmed Police had made several arrests in connection with robberies in the first three months of the year.

But the armed bandits who struck at the Van Buren gas station in Flatts and the Garden Market grocery store are still on the loose. Police are also still hunting the masked knifeman who held up Belvin's grocery store in Devonshire on Tuesday night.

And officers are still looking for the robber who raided a Warwick home armed with a machete on the day of the Empire Grocery attack.

The Chief Inspector was speaking as Police arranged a crime prevention press conference at Marshall's Mini-Mart in Devonshire.

He added: "We have made an arrest into one of the most recent robberies and all the inquiries are continuing.

"I would invite anyone who has any information and can assist us to call the Crimestoppers hotline.'' Chief Insp. Adams conceded that the sharp rise in robberies was a worrying trend.

He added: "In 1995 we had 31 robberies of varying classes and in the first quarter this year we have had 16, compared with three from last year. So it is a cause for concern.

"But our advice to the public is not to attempt to take the law into their own hands.

"Don't attempt to resist these people. Don't put your health and your life at risk.

"You would be better off simply to hand over the valuables they are demanding and walk away to tell the tale.'' He said Police would only know if the robberies were linked when more arrests were made.

Sgt. Christopher Wilcox, the Police crime prevention officer, urged store bosses to boost their security measures in the wake of the recent robberies.

He said managers should install mirrors, in-store cameras and panic buttons for staff.

He added: "Robbers normally hit easy targets. Although these measures are expensive, it's basically common sense to protect yourself.

"We don't want staff members to be heroes. You never know what the individual wants and how they will react.

"The best thing they can do is remember everything that goes on and write it down.

"Give Police a description and always remember what is different about a person.'' The Crimestoppers hotline, now manned at a Police call centre in Miami, can be contacted on 1-800-623-8477.

Store easy target, says owner: Page 3 Elderly woman robbed at knifepoint: Page 3