reporting a number of incidents that occurred around the Island.

At 10.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, two masked men brandishing knives entered Belvins Grocery but before they could make any demands, a female occupant screamed and they fled the scene empty handed.

Earlier in the day, a thief smashed a glass window at Riddells Bay Gas Station and made off with about 29 cartons of cigarettes. North Rock Communications in Washington Mall was also targetted that day by thieves who entered the offices and made off with a cash box containing cash and cheques.

Bishop Spencer School on The Glebe Road was also hit by thieves on Christmas Eve. The school was entered and a video cassette recorder, speakers and a clock radio were taken.

Restaurants were not immune to the mini-crime wave as Henry VII Pub and Restaurant on South Road in Southampton suffered a damaged window. It appeared that thieves tried to enter the building but failed.

And vehicles were also broken into over the holiday period.

A woman returned to her car after attending mass at the Anglican Cathedral on Christmas Eve and found that someone had entered it and removed loose change totalling less than $5.

A computer, cellular phone and other valuables which were also in the car were untouched.

Early on Christmas Day a woman returned to her car which was parked on Hibiscus Lane and found that a window had been smashed and her handbag, which was hidden under the front seat, was missing.

The contents of the bag were later found in the Arboretum minus the cash and wallet.

And another handbag was taken from a woman's car on Boxing Day. A thief was able to reach through the partially opened window of the vehicle, which was parked on Cedar Avenue in Pembroke, and remove the handbag.