probably already on a thieves' "hit-list'' and would soon be victims.

After telling them to heighten security he slammed Bermuda's high rate of robberies and warned offender Gilbert Ronald Simons, 31, that laws would soon be even tougher before sending the Southampton man to prison for six months.

Simons pleaded guilty to walking into the Port Royal Esso gas station and stealing $2,700 from the cash register on August 13 at 10 p.m.

But Magistrate Ed King rejected Simons' explanation that he took the money "out of desperation'' because he was unemployed and had large debts.

"The offence which you committed is all too prevalent in this community at present,'' he said.

"You name it, its been robbed in the last two years. Anybody who hasn't yet been hit is on the hit-list.'' "One of these days when they bring the laws of Bermuda up to date fellows who do what you did will end up in Supreme Court being tried for robbery.'' Simons told Police he stole the money from the Esso cash register after a night of drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

Mr. King said he predicted the gas station would be robbed before Simons made the heist, and even went so far as to warn its operators about security.

"In fact the same female cashier as I spoke to was the one that got hit.'' He rejected either unemployment or debt as a "mitigating factor'' and warned other shops to beware of the now common crime -- but he also warned those considering similar swindles.

"The days of Robin Hood who robbed the rich to provide for the poor are over.

"I think there is no other appropriate punishment but a custodial sentence to punish you and deter any others who may be considering stooping to this level.'' Simons told Mr. King he would like to pay back the money he stole now that he was working.

"I would like to say sorry to the girl that was working at the time and also the owners of the gas station,'' he said.