The raider pretended to buy beer at Maximart in Somerset.

"Then he put his hand in the till, took a handful and ran,'' said owner-manager Mr. Peter Riederer.

A teenage packer from the shop gave chase but the man escaped, he said.

"No-one was hurt. There were 20 people in the store and everybody saw it, but it went so quick.

"Nobody recognised him. He wasn't from up here, that's what the Police think.

"They think it's the same guy that did it at White's recently.'' The amount of money stolen in the Friday night incident has not been revealed.

The thief is described as being in his 20s and brown skinned. He was wearing black pants and shoes and a black and gold peaked cap.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact Somerset detectives on 234 1010.

Heartless thieves have raided the shop for the blind at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

They smashed their way in and snatched cigarettes and rolls of coins worth about $900 in total.

Police said the thieves broke a pane of glass in the door of the shop before gaining entry on Friday night.

Sound equipment worth about $2,600 was grabbed during a break-in at M&M International on Church Street.

Police believe raiders smashed a window at the store at around 3 a.m. on Saturday. They got away with a Denon amplifier, a cassette deck, car stereos, a speaker and other equipment.

Police have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious to call central CID on 295 0011.

Detectives are also investigating a break-in at a home on Spanish View Road in Smith's on Friday night.

A thief is believed to have entered the basement and seized tools and a Seagull outboard engine, together worth around $2,200.

Police are reminding residents and office workers not leave large sums of money in the house or in the office after two break-ins recently.

A Paget home on Dunscombe Road was broken with thieves made off with $2000.

A Police spokesperson said thieves forced their way inside via a sliding glass door.

An office on Burnaby Street was also hit.

Thieves stole $2,200 from a filing cabinet after gaining entrance to the building.

The spokesperson added: "We would once again remind residents not to keep large quantities of money in the house.

"And commercial operators are asked to make sure their takings are deposited at the bank to avoid leaving them on the premises overnight.''