The owner of a business that was recently robbed twice said common household items, like pots, tents and furniture, are being sold on a black market or targeted by burglars for use in their own or other people?s homes.

Police denied any evidence of an underground marketplace for stolen goods on the Island, but admitted there was an increase of burglaries at construction sites and homes undergoing renovation and advised the public to remain vigilant.

Lots of Pots owner Debbie Lombardo said her small business on Serpentine Road was burgled twice in one week of nearly $2,000 worth of merchandise.

?There is a crazy amount of theft going on,? Ms Lombardo said. ?They have to be getting rid of it somehow. Someone places an order so they take it right to their house and deliver it so it is not sitting on the street somewhere.

?Police said it was an enormous problem with building sites around the Island being targeted,? she said.

The first night burglars looted Lots of Pots they cut a chain with bolt-cutters, backed a truck up into the shop and stole $1,200 worth of pots, she said.

?It was like they had a hand picked selection,? she said. ?Almost like they had an order.?

She said Police warned her ? ?Don?t worry they will be back? ? and sure enough a few nights later another $700 worth of pots was taken in the same fashion.

?This is serious,? she said. ?Other times they took a couple of things but this person came in with the intent of taking a lot of stuff. I just can?t believe they would be so cruel. I am just a little business person ? not a big corporation.?

A nearby lunch wagon was also targeted, she said, with 25 cases of iced tea among the missing items.

On the same day at the other end of the Island, tents were among items stolen in a spate of burglaries at Marginal Wharf, St. David?s, a tenant who did not want to be named said.

?We have had five break-ins in the last eight months,? he said. ?A guy who rents tents got raided. They took everything. I know I am going to be the next one. It could be the same person.?

He said the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) hired a security guard to patrol Marginal Wharf but only from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., meaning thieves could simply come after midnight and help themselves.

Last week, Police said in a release a white bathroom vanity cabinet was stolen from a Friswells Road, Pembroke home ? which was currently being renovated ? sometime between 4 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. on Thursday.

And on Sunday, Police said five white PVC and glass windows were stolen from a home on Footbridge Lane, Pembroke ? also being renovated ? sometime between 11 a.m. on Thursday and 11 a.m. on Friday.

While Police denied a black market was in operation, it was understood that some thieves, who were not drug addicts, stole items simply because they wanted them in their own homes or could not afford them.

?We are still receiving reports of thefts and burglaries from construction sites and homes that are under construction,? Police said. ?And we encourage anyone with any information on these incidents to contact Police on 295-0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 1800-623-8477.?

Police continued to advise residents and businesses to secure their homes and shops and to be vigilant for any suspicious activity or individuals in their area.

Receiving property that has been unlawfully obtained carries a 12 month prison sentence in Magistrates? Court or a $1,000 fine.