early hours of yesterday.

Police responded to an automatic alarm being activated at Riihiluoma's store on Queen Street just after 4 a.m. and discovered that a number of cash registers and a jewellery case had been tampered with.

The thieves had already made their escape before Police arrived at the scene.

It is not known if anything was stolen in the raid.

Monday's incident is the latest in a spate of smash and grab raids that have been carried out on Hamilton stores.

Yesterday a Police spokesman confirmed a 28-year-old Pembroke man has been arrested in connection with a number of liquor store break-ins which took place in Hamilton last month.

And a crime prevention officer is calling on store owners to make their premises less attractive to would-be thieves.

Suggesting that the latest break-in could be a copycat crime, Sgt. Chris Wilcox said: "I think the first priority is to remove expensive items from the windows because that's simply attracting people.

"Although you are restricted in terms of outside lighting you could also make sure the store is lit inside.

"Security cameras and special security glass are also good ideas.''