Hurricanes are when Bermudians band together and lend a helping hand, but for one man Hurricane Igor meant looters cleaned him out of approximately $300,000 worth of merchandise.

Chesley Harford Jr. owns CJ’s Fine Jewellers and Goldsmith on Court Street.

The 47-year-old father of four prepared for Hurricane Igor as many other shopkeepers across Hamilton did.

On Sunday, as Igor was approaching the Island, he locked his store, set the alarm and pulled his PVC storm shutter closed.

As winds picked up throughout the night he was at home with his wife and 10-month-old. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that a group of people would smash through his storm shutter and “cleaned” him out.

"I think they did it between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Monday,” he said.

“I had my alarm on but when power went down and the batteries ran out there was no alarm. The roads were empty because of the storm and it looks like a group took sledge hammers to the storm shutter. It would take more than a minute to do that.

”I just didn’t think they would get through that stuff. You have these shutters and you think the place is secure. Guys are desperate right now.”

That means that while winds were gusting up to 117 miles per hour people were busy dismantling 20 years of Mr. Harford’s life. Taking advantage of the empty streets as the Island was being pounded with heavy rains and storm surges the thieves smashed through the lower portion of the storm shutter, approximately three feet up from the ground. They proceeded to smash through his windows and cleaned out his store.

Every last diamond, emerald, ruby and topaz ring was taken, as were custom designs he made and jewellery that was in for repairs. So too were Ice-pek watches and gold chains.

”We make classy pieces,” The Royal Gazette last night. “Not sportswear jewellery. I did my apprenticeship at Trimmingham’s and Astwood Dickenson; this was quality, classy stuff.

”I opened my store in the late 1990s. We have been robbed four times before, but never this bad. We have grown over the years so we didn’t have as much jewellery during the last robberies.”

According to Mr Harford there is an underground network on the Island where people will steal quantities of jewellery and hide them for a while before trying to sell them here in Bermuda or overseas. In the past he has been approached by individuals looking to sell him pieces of jewellery but has refused.

”I have worked with the authorities and helped people recover stolen jewellery,” he said. “I received rewards for it.”

And he is hoping that members of the public will do the same if they are approached.

”At the moment I don’t know if I will go on,” he said. “I don’t know if I can. Some of the pieces taken weren’t insured as I<>just returned from a buying trip two weeks before.

”My wife is concerned, she wants me to go on, but she knows how hard that is going to be.

”I am just trying to meditate and see where I will go from here.”

Mr. Harford’s store was not the only one hit by opportunistic looters.

A Police spokesman said: ”On Monday there were 13 reported burglaries at non-residential properties. In two of these incidents, quantities of jewellery were taken.

”Police are appealing for the public to be on the look out for any individuals who may be attempting to sell jewellery at discounted prices.

”Anyone who may have any information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the main Police number 295-0011.”