brandishing a gun made off with the cash register at Dub City Variety late on Thursday.

In response, Police issued an advisory to shopkeepers.

In the latest incident, a man wearing dark clothing entered Dub City near Bailey's Bay at about 11:30 p.m. and told the two clerks to hand over the money, Police said.

He then grabbed the cash register and ran out of the shop.

The manager of the store would not comment yesterday.

Anyone who saw suspicious activity near the Cottage Hill/Crawl Hill area between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. is asked to contact the Eastern CID office at 297-1122.

Meanwhile, central detectives continued their probe yesterday into Wednesday's robbery of Dismont Robinson and Co. Ltd. general store on Front Street East.

In that incident, two men brandishing what was believed to be a gun entered the store shortly before the 10 p.m. closing time and threatened the female cashier.

They grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash from the till before running from the store and escaping on a motorcycle.

Sgt. John Dale of Police Community and Media Relations said it was too soon to say the incidents were related.

But, "Police are concerned with the recent spate of robberies and are advising small, isolated shops who remain open until late to take precautions,'' he said.

At least two salespersons should be kept on duty, and a minimal amount of cash should be kept on the premises, Sgt. Dale said.

Also, merchants can pick up a robbery prevention brochure from libraries or Police stations, or telephone the Police Crime Prevention Department at 299-4286, he said.

Sgt. Dale would not say whether the weapon used in either incident appeared to be a handgun. "In the interests of the investigation, and in the interests of justice, we can't release too much too soon,'' he said.