By Marina Esplin-Jones It could be a corner cafe in any one of America's crime-ridden inner-city neighbourhoods.

The thug strolled in about closing time and after ordering a hamburger he suddenly pulled a weapon on the shopkeeper.

"Give me all your money or I'll kill you right now!,'' he shouted.

The frightened young mother, who had been getting ready to close for the night, quickly handed him the $10 that was in the cash till. Seeing her handbag, he grabbed that too before fleeing.

It was the fifth robbery at Vanna Lee's Cafe on the North Shore in the last two years.

Owner, Moroccan Mr. Ali Ziieizwni was last night at a loss as to what he could do to prevent a sixth.

"What can I do?,'' he asked. "It's a problem for the Police I guess.'' It was his daughter Mrs. Donna Flood who was held up this time.

"She doesn't want to come here any more,'' he said.

The crook had threatened her with a heavy construction hammer and fled on the back of a friend's waiting motorbike.

Though there was only a few dollars in the cash till as he does not keep large amounts on the premises, Mrs. Flood had $250 cash in the handbag that was stolen.

The armed robbery occurred about 4.15 p.m., Police confirmed. They had no further details at Press time.

"He came in and ordered a hamburger and fries then took a hammer from his pocket and threatened to kill her,'' Mr. Ziieizwni said. "He lifted it at her but didn't use it. She said he was wearing a helmet and he was a tall thin black Bermudian.'' Badly shaken but uninjured, Mrs. Flood called the Police immediately.

Mr. Ziieizwni recalled that three months ago someone bust in at night and stole a supply of expensive foods, including bags of shrimp, steaks and scallops but no money as he no longer leaves a cent on the premises, which is protected by a new security alarm.

Nine months ago, a robber came into the cafe, this time asking to use the telephone, he said.

He then pulled a knife on his girlfriend who was keeping shop at the time and after threatening her, he stole the entire pay-telephone box, which had contained a substantial $950 in quarters and dimes.

His girlfriend wound up in hospital with broken bones after being pushed to the ground.

"They (Police) never catch anyone,'' he said. "The thieves don't want anything to do with me, but it's different for the girls'' he said.

He had no idea if the robbers were the same men.