their security systems failed and employees were unable to enter the buildings.

The Royal Gazette was one of those affected by the impromptu shutdown, which was believed to be caused by a mix-up in the Thanksgiving holidays.

Ray Summers, general manager of Bermuda Alarm, said about three different companies were affected on Thursday.

He said: "We have had problems with holiday schedules. A couple of holiday schedules were wrong. They were completed some time ago and had not been checked.

"We had two or three buildings that we believed would be closed, but instead they were open.

"The problem was corrected immediately, as soon as we found out.'' He said the security systems are set ahead of time, and any changes to the opening and closure of buildings must be entered onto the computerised schedules.

However, he said he was hoping companies would soon take over the responsibility for setting their own security computers and programming swipe and entry passes.

BERMUDIAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BDA Bermudian in the spotlight Bermudian Wendy Madeiros took part in last Thursday's 74th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and earned the Island a little free publicity through her actions.

Ms Madeiros, an executive art director for Macy's, appeared on the Kraft Reddi-Whip Float which depicted the tale of Simple Simon meeting a pieman while on his way to a fair.

She played the part of Simple Simon and was mentioned when the float stopped briefly in front of a television announcer.

The announcer also noted Ms Madeiros was from Bermuda and joked that she probably wished she was there instead of taking part in the parade in freezing temperatures.

Her father Ray, who still lives in Bermuda, said he saw his daughter on television and noted that she took part in last year's parade as a balloon handler but injured her back.

BREAK-INS UNDER INVESTIGATION CRM Break-ins under investigation A thief broke into Bermuda Swimming Pools on Mills Creek Road, Pembroke, sometime during last weekend, and removed cash from a register. Staff discovered the burglary at about 8.30 a.m. on the Monday morning and found that the thief had managed to break in by using force.

And Police are investigating the theft of a VCR and television from a house in Middle Road, Southampton, sometime during the last month while the occupants were off the Island.

Also taken were a videogame console with eight games, an amount of compact discs, and several bottles of alcohol. Anyone with information about either burglaries should call Police on 295-0011.

ROAD RAGE ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL CTS Road rage accused granted bail Substantial bail has been offered to a Pembroke man who pleaded not guilty yesterday in the alleged "road rage'' attack on a local couple.

Magistrate Edward King released Nakia Javon Burchall on $2,000 bail with a surety for a charge of assaulting Norine Douglas on November 5.

Burchall, 25, of Middletown Drive, was arrested last Thursday following the incident.

He was represented by lawyer Richard Hector. Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke was the prosecutor.

Burchall was also given another $2,000 in bail with a surety for wounding Raymond Perot in another unrelated incident on November 8.

Mr. King set down trial dates of February 27 and March 5.