A tougher approach to security could be taken at an electronics shop in Hamilton after a third break-in this year, its manager said yesterday.

Todd Martin, the general manager of P-Tech, said that thieves were becoming bolder and the business’s owners could be forced to use measures such as roller doors or bars on the windows.

He added that although such steps would better secure the store, it was feared they would lead to an unwelcoming atmosphere.

Mr Martin said: “In Hamilton’s prime shopping area, what does a gate over the windows say?

“It’s unwelcoming and if I were to put that over my display windows, I lose my display. What’s the sense in having a window there otherwise?

“You don’t want to become like New York or places like that, but it’s a sign of the times.”

Mr Martin was speaking after the shop, on the corner of Reid Street and Queen Street, was broken into at about 3.30am.

Police said that officers on mobile patrol spotted the store’s damaged front door and did an immediate sweep of the area.

They saw a man dressed in dark clothing head towards Par-la-Ville Park but he then fled the scene on a motorcycle after spotting officers.

The 19-year-old was later arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station.

A search of the park also led to the arrest of a second suspect, a 28-year-old man, and the recovery of several electronic goods believed to have been stolen during the burglary.

Mr Martin said that, while he was confident in the police’s ability to catch thieves, it did not guarantee the return of stolen goods.

He added that prosecution did not always account for the cost of damages or business lost.

Mr Martin said: “A lot of times you don’t get it back if police don’t catch them right away.

“The police will take them to court but there’s really not much these guys can do because they don’t have the money to pay us back any way.

“It’s not like they’re not catching them and they’re not getting prosecuted, there’s just too many.”

He added: “They’re typically aiming for the small, high-value items such as phones and computers and that’s a lot of money that we’re talking about.

“We don’t always have the stock for large items, so when they steal that they’re taking all of our stock.”

P-Tech was targeted by opportunistic thieves when Hurricane Lee impacted the island last month and it was also burgled in April.

The store was also struck in May last year when the burglar stole $25,000 worth of electronics and caused $11,000 worth of damage.

Shaheed Muhammad, 27, was later arrested and charged with the break-in.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and property damage and was jailed for nine months.

Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigations Unit on 247-1744.

• UPDATE: this article has been updated to include information about a 2022 break-in