Thieves Snatch Visitors Handbag/Camera/Cash
Yesterday [Sept.19] two visitors to the Island had cash and their digital camera stolen when two men snatched a bag from the basket of their rental cycle.
A police spokesperson, “Around 3:20pm on Monday September 19, police attended a reported handbag snatch on South Road in Smith’s parish near the junction with Morer Estate Road.”
“It appears that two visitors were riding a rental cycle along South Road when two unknown men believed to be on a red motorcycle took a bag from the rental cycle’s basket.”
“The green and blue bag contained a quantity of cash, a Sony digital camera and personal items. The suspects fled the scene on their motorcycle heading east. The visitors were not injured. Inquiries into this incident are underway.”
“Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact the St. George’s Criminal Investigation Unit on 293-2222.”
Catch the thieves and beat their fingers to a pulp, bet they stop stealing!
‘Shariah is not in order to inflict harm on people and make them suffer, rather the Shariah concept for imposing penalties for the various crimes is that they prevent harm, destruction and anarchy in the society. They are not prescribed in order to harm people, but the contrary’ Maybe this is a case for imposing Shariah whereby the convicted perpetrator(s) have their hands cut off if convicted! Bermuda is tired!!!
Not this again. My heart goes out to our visitors that have to be subjected to the unsocialbe behavior of these hooligans. Why can’t they be caught and held responsible for their actons. Enough is Enough. Bermuda is suffering enough as it is. Don’t need this. Grow up and get a damn job. Dysfunctional individuals.
Why in hell would visitors want to come to Bermuda ? and why would potential overseas workers want to come here ?can someone answer me ?
Hold on there buddy, Bermuda is not Disney World, it a Island country with all of the ills of the World… No way condoning these goons but I won’t take it that far.
No Mixitup, Bermuda certainly IS NOT Disney World. IT IS however, a place that people CHOOSE to come to. I’m with you Pepper, why are these people STILL CHOOSING to come here?? It’s not like they were forced to vacation or work here at gunpoint! GUNPOINT is what some of them get after making the bad choice to still come to Bermuda on vacation or to work.
Bermuda is full of scumbags!!
…the real question is WHY can’t we be a Disney world, why can’t that be a Bermuda initiative – to not steal, to not murder our cousins, brothers, and not do all the things that bring this beautiful country down? Are we that pathetic?
Don’t be ridiculous! “Why can’t we be Disney World?” It’s not like Bermuda hires it’s citizens. Be realistic, it’s not a fantasy world (although it may look like it). Even in countries where your hands are chopped off for stealing, people steal. What bubble are you all living in?
I repeat: “Why not?”
Think back to your parents saying to you: “Just because everybody else is doing it, it doesn’t make it right!”
As a country, we don’t have to accept bad behaviour because everybody else does. To do so is just laziness, a willingness to accept crap just because.
Well until we all reach Heaven then we have no choice but to live with the reality that there are people out there that have Bad intentions and will act on it. Some yet to be born.
Drive past any south shore beach… That’s why tourists want to visit Bermuda…!!!
The average Bermudian is friendly and inviting… That’s why tourists want to visit Bermuda and want to come back and they do….!!
Look at your pay check and compare it to someone working in the same position in other countries… That’s why foreign workers want to work here…!!!
Bermuda may look like a paradise but it has it’s problems too… Get over yourself in thinking Bermuda is some type of utopia. It is unfortunate that these visitors were victimized but it could have happened to anybody and anywhere. what makes Bermuda special is that after an unfortunate incident like this we treat those affected with more care and compassion. If you did a follow up with these folks I’m sure they would say that have treated well throughout there stay except for the a__holes who snatched there bag.
Does this answer your question??????
@ pepper Why would ANYBODY want to travel ANYWHERE if your using this as an example? Robberies happen WORLWIDE! Bermuda is not immune…..
For those with problems understanding … Bermuda still (and falsely) advertises itself as being safe and crime free. This is what tourists hear .
Then , too many find out that it’s not true ..
Yeah , we know there’s crime everywhere and where they come from and yadda yadda .. But the difference is , where they come from they don’t lie to people about their crime status . We know what it is and we choose not to go to such places for holiday spending our hard earned money.
The bad word of mouth has been bulding up against us for about 30 years now .
And we continue to allow these miscreants to attack our bread and butter !
not to be cold………….the bike has a hidden compartment under the seat!!!please tell our visitors to use it
Also, (again not to be cold) but do our bike rental places give our vistors a heads up with the theft and tell them to secure their belongings?
Not to be cold, nut how about putting some of these thieves away for 10+ years instead of the trivial sentences they currently get?
I just do not understand that why given all the money these bike renatls places make they can’t do away with the open baskets on rental bikes and instead put lock boxes.
True there is a hidden compartment under the seat, but tourist like locals, have stuff they want to ride around with that sometimes can be too large for those compartments.
It’s time to start arresting the owners of these rental companies for failing to equip these bikes with covered lockable baskets. These baskets are all of a $100 if they buy in bulk.
I am tired of the thieving little b#stards who are stealing, the rental companies who are not doing their part and to some degree the ignorance of these tourists who are not taking ordinary precautions.
This problem can be mitigated from the start by having the appropriate basket on the bikes. If the tourists fail to lock their basket, then it’s their fault. Bermuda’s reputation should be given a black eye for things that can be prevented to a large degree.
Had enough of this foolishness!
Elected officials please force the rental companies to provide closed in baskets on these bikes so that these good for nothing low life theives wont look at the goods in their baskets at make them targets. Rentals shops ..STOP using those cheap wired baskets.
For now on when a tourist has stuff stolen from their baskets, make the rental company pay for all their personal belongings. I bet they will change baskets,and tell them thieves are on the prowl & what not to do….
Tee what did you sniff last night? Tourists are cautioned in a document that they sign.If you truly want Peace, think before making idiotic statements.
It is unfortunate when any one is robbed. Before you folks go shooting off your mouths as to what the cycle liveries should do, you need to know what you are talking about. Locked boxes are out for many reasons. 2 most outstanding are… 1: Keys get lost thus creating a nightmare if the renter has to gain quick access. 2: This encourages tourists to leave valuables unattended in the boxes, thus creating easy pickings for “DUTY FREE SHOPPERS” Tourists are fully aware of what not to do. Not only are they told,they have to sign a legal document. I have seen many riding with bags open and not secured to the basket with the lock supplied by the Livery.
Those who suggest that Rental Companies should be liable must be living in Dream Land.
obviously very few people are aware of how hard it is for rental companies to make any money….fewer tourists, cheap cruise ship passengers,,money off the top to hotels and cruise companies…left with a few bucks at the end of the day..the biggest money maker off of rental bikes are the orthopedic surgeons….people see the beauty of south shore and go wobbling down the road at 15kph making them easy prey for the scum out there..common sense for renters and fewer thefts…
to those companies who can’t make it financially…exit stage left because you are doing a disservice to the tourists and to Bermuda as a whole. Step up your game or get the hell out.
There was a time when rental bikes only had open wicker baskets on the side. Handbag snatching was rare. Judges, supported by a tough on crime policy from the Government, handed down appropriate penalties.
These days it is the proverbial slap on the wrist, if caught, & off they go to do it again.
The often used excuse of “it happens everywhere else” does not wash. I have traveled extensively in the US & Canada staying at campgrounds. People leave all of their stuff out in the open while they go on day trips in the area. Theft in a campground is very very rare. There is no security. Anyone can drive in.
The difference is Bermuda has become an inner city with an inner city mentality. Anything goes with little accountability.
@ Drifter – hear, hear!
Crime continues in Bermuda BECAUSE WE ALLOW IT TO and because we have such low expectations… full stop!
There are tourists in Bermuda?
Apologies. I really meant to say that ‘we have such low standards’.
For anyone so bull headed to believe the issue of crime in Bermuda can be some how justified as being a world wide problem, check out the following statement taken directly from the US Department of State travel advisories web site.
This does happen all over the world but when tourism numbers are falling off the chart you need to realize more crime = less tourists = less jobs = more crime !!
“CRIME: Bermuda has a moderate but growing crime rate. Recent crime statistics can be viewed at the official website of the Bermuda Police Service. Examples of common crimes include theft of unattended baggage and items from rental motorbikes, purse snatching (often perpetrated by thieves riding motorbikes), mugging, and theft from unsecured hotel rooms. Valuables left in hotel rooms or left unattended in public areas are vulnerable to theft. Criminals often target visitors on rental motorbikes and at popular tourist attractions.
The back streets of the city of Hamilton are often the setting for nighttime assaults, particularly late at night after the bars close. Travelers should exercise caution when walking after dark or visiting out-of-the-way places on the island as they can be vulnerable to theft and assault, and because narrow and dark roadways can contribute to accidents. In the past, there have been reports of sexual assault and acquaintance rape and occasional use of “date rape” drugs.
Travelers should note an increase in gang presence and illegal drug activity in Bermuda. There have been no reports of gang violence targeted towards visitors to Bermuda, although gunfire between gang members has occurred throughout the island”
You know way back in 2004 it was suggested to a member of the Government of today over ZBM talk radio conversation that there should be UMEMPLOYMENT services offered in Bermuda. The THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars spent in consultants to the Island and overseas trips by those who govern would have made a difference and families would have had a chance to make the right choice in sustaining their families between ALLOWING family members’ gang/criminal behavior/murder and getting their money from Government until work became available.
Perhaps, that would have made a difference and there would be a far different Bermuda today with a healthy tourist economy providing jobs to sustain families.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE BERMUDA WILL BE HEADING TOWARD A “WELFARE STATE”. UGH!!!!
there is one thing though Joya that will keep Bermuda from becoming a welfare state….the government is broke and is on welfare itself….cutting social services rather than increasing them….
Wrong! This government is broke and on welfare itself but has no hesitation in taxing all of us people and businesses who practice safe finance; who keep balanced books, maintain appropriate relationships between Revenues and Expenditures, who make sacrifices and give value for money. For that reason this government will continue to be broke and break the backs of those who they are meant to serve until the people of Bermuda demand better and chase these cogs and cogettes outta town. Demand more, Elect better.