An indicia-reading device including an indicia-capturing subsystem for acquiring information about indicia within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view and an indicia-decoding module configured for decoding indicia information within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view. The device also includes a hand-supportable housing, a battery compartment, an end cap for holding the battery compartment in place, and a locking mechanism for securing the end cap to the battery compartment during use.