Gregory Nolan, 31, of Friswell's Hill, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to breaking into the Bombay Cycle Club, Burrows Lightbourne Ltd., Kriss Kross Records, and Reeves Carpet.

He stole more than $2,000 worth of property from three of the businesses and a car from Burnaby Street.

And he asked that four similar offences be taken into consideration.

Shortly before 6.30 p.m. on December 19 Police saw Nolan walking on Dundonald Street, carrying a black plastic bag, prosecutor Sgt. Earl Kirby said.

When Police tried to stop Nolan to question him he ran off.

He was eventually caught and subdued, Sgt. Kirby said.

The bag contained frozen food stuff, 17 compact discs, and a small "ornament-type'' bicycle.

Earlier that day the manager of Bermuda Restaurant Ltd. -- which owns Bombay Cycle Club -- discovered the restaurant on Reid Street had been broken into.

Sgt. Kirby said Nolan admitted breaking into the restaurant.

He said he was looking for cash. Nolan also told Police he had broken into Kriss Kross Records.

He claimed he stole about $190 from the store's cash register, Sgt. Kirby said. But the owner said there was $265 in the register before the break-in.

Nolan also told Police that he entered Burrows Lightbourne through a side door after 5 p.m. on November 14.

After an unsuccessful attempt to open the safe, he said he left the store and stole a car which was parked on Burnaby Street with the keys in the ignition.

Nolan said he then picked up someone he knew and they returned to Burrows Lightbourne with tools to open the safe.

They took the safe after they still could not get it open, he said, and bottles of rum, beer, and whiskey.

Nolan and his accomplice, who was not before the court, later removed more than $1,000 from the safe and abandoned the stolen car near the Bermuda College, Robert's Avenue campus.

Sgt. Kirby said Police later retrieved the $300 safe which was beyond repair.

He said the owner of the car also reported that he had to pay $100 for car damage.

Nolan was also caught trying to break into Reeves Carpet on Front Street on October 22.

Sgt. Kirby said around 5.30 a.m. that day Police received a report of glass shattering near the junction of Front and King streets.

They arrived to find Nolan standing on the second floor of the building.

He appeared to be bleeding from his hands and legs, Sgt. Kirby said.

Nothing was stolen from the business, but some $300 worth of damage had been caused to the store door.

The court heard that Nolan, who is unemployed, has a history of dishonesty dating back to 1986.

Duty counsel Mr. Wilhelm Bourne said Nolan was "very glad that he was caught because of his serious drug problem which he admits''.

"He needs help,'' Mr. Bourne said. "He has had some help from Addiction Services back in 1989.

"He seems to be a good person who is caught in bad ways and who is unable to help himself.'' Mr. Bourne suggested that a social inquiry report would be helpful for Nolan and the court.

He also asked acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Mrs. Mapp to grant Nolan bail.

"I know these offences are serious,'' Mr. Bourne said. "But his mother is seriously ill and will undergo surgery on January 4. He wants time to spend with her in case of any serious outcome to that.'' Mr. Bourne also said by admitting to everything Nolan felt that his slate had been wiped clean again and Nolan promised that he would not commit any further offences.

Mr. Bourne suggested that the court could confiscate Nolan's travel documents and order him to report to Police twice a day.

But Sgt. Kirby strongly objected to bail being granted.

He noted that Nolan was on bail when some of the offences occurred.

"The court must be seen to protect the public, especially this time of the year when Police' hands were full,'' Sgt. Kirby said. "He committed these offences during the night. Reporting to Police would not prevent him from committing further offences during the night.'' But Nolan said: "I've admitted everything, Mrs. Mapp, including things that I did not have to say. Right now I feel bad as it is and my parents will feel worse.

"We almost lost my mother before. I need to be with my mother.'' Mrs. Mapp, however, noted Nolan committed some offences a month after he was released on bail in October.

At the end of the court session, she reluctantly granted Nolan bail in the sum of $1,000 with two like sureties.

She also ordered him to surrender his driver's licence and travel documents.

An 8 p.m.-to-7 a.m. curfew was also imposed on Nolan who will have to report to Hamilton Police Station at 3 p.m. every day.

Mrs. Mapp ordered him to return to court on January 10.