The general manager of Washington Mall says security will be stepped up in the light of a seven-shop burglary spree.

However, shop owners continued to complain this week that they feel their concerns about this and previous break-ins have not been taken seriously.

Burglars smashed their way into the mall on Reid Street, Hamilton in the early hours of Sunday and grabbed an estimated $1,000 from the stores.

The incident prompted calls for tighter security.

A shopkeeper who spoke to earlier this week claimed that the mall does not have an alarm system, that security cameras are ineffective and that security gates are left unlocked.

Other staff later made similar remarks, with one woman ? who did not want her name printed ? claiming that the management have failed to address security problems.

?One of the reasons we rent from the mall is because it?s suppose to be a safe environment (and) to know that it?s not, that?s where it?s a scary thought,? she said. ?They are saying it?s not practical to alarm the mall but that?s not fair.

?All they?ve done now is said that the mall is not safe.

?Every burglar and thief can go to the mall because it?s not alarmed ? security is not existent.

?You?d think management would want to step up to the plate but they don?t.?

Another shop owner commented: ?This has to be the only mall in the world without an alarm system.?

However Joseph Lopes, owner of Sound Stage where the burglar took around $200 from the cash register, said such incidents inevitably happen.

?If people want to get in, they?ll find a way?, he commented.

Paul Slaughter, general manager of the mall has refuted the allegations made by the shopkeepers.

?We will be making some changes (to security) although I don?t want to say what they are for obvious reasons,? he said on Wednesday.

?We will do the best we can.?

He confirmed that a burglar alarm is ?an option? although he said that an alarm system for the entire Mall ? using motion detectors or other devices ? would not be practical.

?Even when the building is closed, there are cleaners and other staff in the building.

?Many of our tenants come and go at odd hours,? he explained.

He said that the mall?s digital CCTV system was in full working order and picked up several images of the culprit, but his face was obscured by a hooded jacket.

Because of suspicions that the burglar seemed to be aware of the camera locations, they will be moved around in future and some of them will be concealed.

Additional security guards may also be brought in to assist the resident guard.

?We advise retail tenants to consider installing cameras or alarms within their own premises. We would also advise tenants not to leave large sums of cash on their premises, especially over a holiday weekend,? said Mr. Slaughter.

He said the metal security gate on Church Street is not locked because of complaints from tenants that it restricts their access, and added: ?We take the concerns very seriously and do everything we can to make the building secure bearing in mind we are between a rock and a hard place and that tenants complain about access.?

Video tapes of the weekend break-in and a previous incident in November 2004 have indicated to the Police that the same culprit may be behind both, said Mr. Slaughter.

Police said no arrests have been made. A Police spokesman said this week that in the wake of recent burglaries targeting several stores in the nearby Washington Mall over the weekend, the Crime Prevention Unit was working with traders to improve security.