Police investigate Factory Lane break-in

Police are investigating various thefts including a break-in at a Pembroke residence on Tuesday.

Police report that sometime between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., an unknown culprit gained entry into the Factory Lane home and stole $700 in cash.

Meanwhile Police responded to a theft at the Elliott Primary School in Devonshire on Tuesday morning.

Sometime between 3.30 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. on Monday afternoon an unknown culprit entered the office at the school and stole a small, black knapsack containing a Nokia cellular phone, $150 in cash and personal items.

The culprit also took a large, red knapsack containing personal items.

In Pembroke, an unattended CableVision truck on Union Street was broken into on Monday night.

Police say a blue Miaita cordless drill and a black, 9-inch portable television with cable connectors were taken between 6 p.m. on Monday and 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Inquiries into the incidents are underway.

Former cashier admits to theft charge

A former Trimingham?s cashier appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of theft and fraud.

Kimberley Peniston, 20, of Smith?s Parish, pleaded guilty to charges of falsifying a client?s signature on a credit card purchase for $150 in September of this year.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told the court that Canadian tourist Rosa L. Johnson had purchased goods from Trimingham?s in Hamilton on September 20, but when she inspected her credit card bills some time later, noticed an additional purchase for $150 had been made on her card, four days after she?d left the Island.

Mr. Bannister said after Trimingham?s investigated the complaint in October, Police arrested Peniston who admitted what she?d done.

Peniston, who had been working at Trimingham?s for about a year-and-a-half before the incident, told the court she was sorry for what she?d done and apologised to Trimingham?s.

Mr. Bannister told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Peniston has since returned the money to Trimingham?s.

?A conviction won?t serve anyone any good,? Mr. Warner said, adding that, in the light of the fact that this was her first conviction, a social inquiry would be held before she?d be sentenced to community service.

Bail was set at $300 and sentencing was postponed until December 17.

SSI to hold leadership summit for children

A Leadership Summit for children between the ages of ten and 14 is to be held at the Hamilton Adventist Centre on December 19 and 20.

The programme is being run by Police media relations chief Dwayne Caines, in conjunction with his twin brother Wayne, a Crown prosecutor, and Bermuda Institute teacher Mason West.

Together they have established a company called Success Systems International (SSI), dedicated to the ?empowerment? of people through educational programmes, motivational seminars and professional consultation.

The young participants will be exposed to group discussions and activities that will cover a whole host of social skills including teamwork, communication, self-esteem, leadership and etiquette.

?In my line of work, I come across a lot of young men and women in crisis,? Mr. Caines said.

?Initially we wanted to start up an organisation that looks at ways of building a core of responsible young people in the local community.

?The participants will be tutored in conflict resolution skills, public speaking, how to treat women ? all the knowledge that society needs its youngsters to have.?

Mr. Caines revealed that they already have 60 children booked in for the summit and are ultimately hoping to have close to 100 participants in total.

The first sessions will be between 4 and 8 p.m on Sunday, December 19 and between 9.30 a.m and 3.30 p.m on Monday, December 20.

The cost of each session is $50.

Any persons wishing to take part, who have financial concerns, are asked to contact SSI on 515-1906, as special dispensations may be granted.

Registration can also be carried out online at .

?We certainly don?t claim to have all the answers,? Mr. Caines said.

?But Bermuda has been very kind to us and through this initiative we are hoping to give just a little bit back.?

Day of the Child to be marked on Sunday

To commemorate the Day of the Child this Sunday, the public has been invited to a special candle lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. in St. George?s.

Day of the Child is an international event in which candles are lit in remembrance of children who have died all over the world.

St. George?s Mayor E. Michael Jones said by lighting candles in Bermuda, the country would join millions of people across the globe doing the same thing, at exactly the same time.

?It?s important to remember children who have died, especially at this time of year. Families and friends who have lost a child are invited to join us in remembering them,? said Mr. Jones, who learned about the ceremony from the ?Annie?s Mailbox? column in .

The hour-long function will include carol singing by students from St. George?s Preparatory School and East End Primary.

Mr. Jones asked the public to bring their own candles, adding that marshmallows would be supplied for toasting.

Police issue advisory for retailers

Police are advising retailers to take heed to a list of safety tips they have released for the Christmas holidays.

Staff are encouraged to be courteous and attentive because shop lifters will be less likely to steal if someone is paying attention to them.

And all staff are recommended to keep a watch of the whole store not just their particular section.

Staff are also encouraged to limit the number of items a customer is allowed to take into the dressing room.

Police have recommended that expensive items be kept away from the exit of the store and close to cash registers.

Shops are encouraged to avoid narrow, cluttered aisles because shop lifters prefer those.

Police also said all shop lifters do not look a like ? people are not always what they appear.

Make sure all security cameras have been tested, are in working order, and that there is plenty of tape around.

If retailers experience any challenges with customers, they are asked to call Police immediately.