Some cycle livery owners are considering installing alarms on rental cycles to combat the growing tide of thefts which cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars last year.

And others are calling for harsher sentences against cycle thieves, most of whom are aged between 10 and 19.

Police figures released yesterday showed a astounding increase in the numbers of cycles that have been removed from homes and parking lots in Hamilton.

Last year 2,536 cycles were removed, compared with 1,284 in 1993. Of the 155 people arrested, 101 were between 10 and 19 years old.

Dowling's Cycles owner Mr. Randolph Dowling, who is experimenting with alarms, said he had 25 cycles stolen last year at a cost of $2,000 each.

The thefts wiped out any benefits the St. George's livery gained from the arrival of the Royal Majesty as the town's dedicated cruise ship.

"It was terrible for us (last season) just like everybody else,'' he said.

"In fact I feel like getting out of the business after all these (50) years.

"With Government taxes in addition to stealing, it's so expensive to operate.

Cycles are not insured against theft.

"We are looking into the possibility of getting an alarm system but we are not finding it to easy to go about it. If someone touches it, it will go off and with tourists, they park the cycle anywhere.'' Mr. Dowling said his staff were experimenting with different types of alarms but they have so far not found one that is suitable.

Similarly at Eve's cycles, general manager Mrs. Denise Trew said her shop was also looking into alarm systems because the locks they are currently using are not working.

"We've had a particularly rough time with the City Expresses when it comes to thefts.'' she said. "I guess we have lost somewhere in the region of $40-$50,000 because of thefts.

"The alarm systems we have looked at cost between $75 and $100 to install, but we are watching the economics of the situation closely.'' Oleander Cycles general manager Mr. Geoffrey Gibbons said alarm systems were "simply too expensive''.

He said his staff tried to impress on visitors the necessity of locking their cycles and leaving them in well lit areas.

"Last season was not as bad as the one before it,'' he said. "But thefts are a multi-million dollar problem because of the spin-off effects on a tourist's vacation experience.

"Bermuda is still a safe place, but we are focusing on prevention.'' Astwood Cycles president Mr. Glenn Cuoco said his firm had thought about alarm systems for their cycles but were dissuaded from pursuing that course.

"If a thief can pick the lock, I'm sure he could also find a way to pick any alarm,'' he said. "Instead of alarms we have invested in Kryptonite locks.'' Cycle liveries reeling from bike thefts Mr. David Panchaud, former chairman of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce's cycle livery division, said the spiralling thefts were discussed at a meeting last Thursday.

"We all recognise there is a horrendous theft problem,'' he said.

"Everyone is aware of it and it certainly affects our cycle livery operations drastically because of the amount of dollars involved.

"This reflects on the visitor. We cannot continue to absorb these losses, we've either got to increase prices or find some other way to get relief somehow.'' Mr. Panchaud said members have discussed using private security firms or surveillance cameras but these measures needed strong signals from the courts when it came to sentencing convicted bike thieves.

Last week, 43 cycles were removed of which only eight were locked.

Corporation of Hamilton secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt said more than half the thefts of cycles occurred in the city.

"The Corporation is very concerned at the rapid escalation of cycle thefts but not just livery cycles, all cycles. We have been involved in discussions with the Police and the major insurance companies looking at ways of deterring all cycle thefts.

"We are aware there is an increase in livery cycle thefts too, but our major concern is that there are so many cycle thefts, particularly in the city.

"It's too early to comment on the various suggestions being discussed,'' Mr.

Sherratt said. "But the surveillance cameras do sound like a sensible suggestion.

"But it is vital that the public understands the gravity of this problem. If you have a cycle whether you are a tourist or a local, you must lock it whenever you leave it.''