A knife-wielding robber stole a chain from around the neck of a staff member at a livery cycle business yesterday.

Police said a man went into Oleander Cycles in Southampton, near The Reefs hotel, and threatened an employee with a knife before a scuffle broke out.

The attacker grabbed a 30-inch chain from around the victim’s neck and escaped on a black motorcycle driven by another man.

The victim was not injured in the incident, which happened at about 2.10pm, but he said it was a “very” horrible experience.

He added: “It came out of nowhere; it was just out of the blue.”

Both the raiders were dressed in all-black clothes and the weapon was said to be a kitchen knife.

It is understood the branch closed early yesterday, but Gregory Bluck, Oleander Cycles general manager, declined to comment.

The robbery was the second of its kind yesterday, as well as an attempted bag snatch, and came after a spate of similar thefts in recent weeks.

Police said they had not ruled out that the chain snatches are connected.

In Warwick earlier yesterda, a woman fought off thieves who attempted to grab her handbag in a separate incident.

Two suspects on a motorcycle targeted the victim as she stood at the junction of Burnt House Hill and Paddock Drive at about 10.15am.

Police said the pair stopped and started to speak to the woman before the passenger got off the vehicle and confronted her.

He tried to snatch her bag, but he was unsuccessful and the pair fled.

On Parsons Road, Pembroke, near Happy Valley Road, at about 8.45am, two men on a motorcycle tried to snatch a chain from the neck of a motorcyclist.

A police spokesman said: “The victim somehow managed to keep possession of the chain and the suspects then quickly left the area on their motorcycle.”

The incident is not believed to be related to the Warwick bag snatch bid.

Police said last Friday that two men on a motorcycle were believed to be responsible for a string of attempted chain snatches across the island.

A police spokeswoman said at the time, it appeared the incidents up to that point were “opportunistic with randomly selected targets”.

She urged motorcyclists to conceal jewellery and other belongings while on the road to avoid being targeted.

Desmond Crockwell, an anti-violence campaigner, said last night that those responsible should think about the consequences of their actions.

He added: “These young men, they’re hurting the country.”

“I beg them to stop. I ask them to look in the mirror and ask themselves, is it worth it? It could have a trickle effect on the country. Word can get out that Bermuda is an unsafe place.

“That could affect tourism, that could affect his parents going to work. People need to understand the impact.”

Mr Crockwell said the crimes were “unnecessary” and that they make members of the public, including children, feel unsafe.

He told the thieves: “Your one little incident is impacting your grandma because she doesn’t want to go out in case somebody’s going to rob her.”

The national security ministry did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

Michael Dunkley, the shadow national security minister, said: “Violence in our communities is always a real concern, even more so in a small community like Bermuda.

“Violence impacts us all in a very negative way.

“At this time, in the height of summer, when we’re very busy with tourism, for the latest incident to happen in a spot that is frequented by visitors and locals alike, this hits the foundation of our community.”

Police have appealed for witnesses to all the incidents.