people complained about being ripped off.

Insp. Roseanda Jones said yesterday that several members of the public went to the Police after exchanging "large sums of money'' for vehicle repairs that were never carried out.

Most of the complaints centred around the same person, Insp. Jones added, saying: "We are investigating the matter but we want to warn members of the public against the practice of parting with their money on (only) a promise of repairs.'' In other crime news, Police reported two break-ins, two thefts from cars and a "smash and grab'' over the past few days.

The break-ins occurred on Patience Lane in Sandys on Tuesday and on Middle Road in Southampton over the weekend.

In the first case "a large amount of cash'' was stolen; in the latter a school was robbed of two clock radios, 12 bottles of water and a radio-cassette player.

Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, meanwhile, a car that was parked on Malabar Road in Sandys had its CD player, equaliser and cassette deck ripped out. Yesterday afternoon a handbag containing a small amount of cash, credit cards and personal items was stolen from a navy blue Mitsubishi that was parked in St. George's town square.

Any witnesses to the St George's incident are asked to call Det. Sgt. Stuart Crockwell at 297-1122.

Two pairs of shoes were also stolen yesterday after the display window of a Church Street store in Hamilton was shattered with a blunt object at around 5.40 a.m.