out of the Government kennels began serving prison time yesterday.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis told Michael Raynor and James Hassell, who had previous convictions for theft, that they had run out of chances. Hassell was jailed for six months and Raynor for three months after both pleaded guilty to a break-in and theft at a house on South Road, Paget, on June 17.

Mr. Francis reminded Hassell, 18, of Old Military Road, St. George's, that earlier this year he had given him a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Raynor, 18, of Littleton Apartments, Cedar Avenue, Pembroke, was given a conditional discharge in June for stealing $48 of property.

Hassell's lawyer, Peter Farge, told the court his client had been working with a construction firm and was receiving counselling.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley told Magistrates' Court that Hassell and Raynor broke into the house on the morning of June 17. From the master bedroom, they stole $300, jewellery from a box, a Nintendo games machine, two joysticks and game cartridge worth a total of $200. She said when they were interviewed by Police they admitted the crime and said they used the money to get a dog out of Government kennels and to buy food.

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOLEN CRM Triumph motorcycle engine stolen A thief is sure to have a difficult time trying to pawn off a custom made Triumph motorcycle engine stolen sometime last Thursday or Friday. The engine was stolen from a Lighthouse Hill, St. David's residence. Also stolen from the home were a man's Rolex stainless steel watch, and a 24-inch gold chain.

LOST EXPAT GETS HIS WALLET STOLEN CRM Lost expat gets his wallet stolen A new resident fell victim to the seedier side of Bermudian life early yesterday while asking for directions to Hibiscus Lane from Court Street.

Police yesterday reported that the man left the 24-hour Esso gas station on Richmond Road in Pembroke on foot and realised he was lost on Victoria Street around 3 a.m.

He turned onto Court Street and approached a man sitting on the steps of a building.

As the man pointed him in the right direction and the victim turned his back, the good Samaritan turned thief and removed the man's wallet from his back pocket.

The thief ran away and the victim made his way to the Hamilton Police Station to make a report.

And visitors to the Island fell victim to another handbag snatching on Tuesday shortly after renting a livery cycle. The cruise ship passengers were riding along Palmetto Road, Devonshire when they pulled over to allow a cycle -- which had been riding too close for comfort -- to pass by. But the rider reached into their cycle basket and grabbed a rucksack containing personal items and a Timex sports watch.

WOMEN ON DRIFTING BOAT RESCUED RES Women on drifting boat rescued Two women were yesterday rescued by a tug after their inflatable boat broke down in Hamilton Harbour.

The crew were seen paddling their boat around a quarter-of-a-mile off Two Rock Passage.

The tug Clevelander went to the rescue and brought the women and their boat back to shore. The incident happened just after 10 a.m.

IMPAIRED DRIVER HAD NO HELMET CTS Impaired driver had no helmet A Sandys Parish man was banned from the road for a year and fined $450 for driving while impaired after he was caught riding his motorcycle without a helmet.

Police stopped Michael Burgess on Middle Road, Southampton, as he and a pillion passenger, who was also not wearing a helmet, drove past at 10 p.m. on August 25. The officers, who pulled in Burgess near the Port Royal gas station, noticed the bike was moving from side to side, prosecutor Veronica Daley told Magistrates' Court.

When they spoke to him about not wearing a helmet, they noticed his speech was slurred.

Burgess, 29, of George's Bay Road, Sandys Parish, initially agreed to give a breath test but later refused, said Mrs. Daley.

Burgess, who was cautioned about failing to provide a breath specimen, yesterday pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.

After hearing that Burgess was convicted in 1996 for driving while impaired, Senior Magistrate Will Francis fined him $450 and banned him for driving all motor vehicles for 12 months.