Two men were attacked by robbers — one of them at knifepoint — in a 20 minute spell in the same street.

Police suspect the robberies — which both involved four men on two bikes, in Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, on Friday evening — were carried out by the same offenders.

In the first incident, the 41-year-old victim, who was a visitor to the Island, was walking in the area of Smatt's Cycles at about 8.55 p.m..

He said two motorcycles, which were travelling east and each carried two men, pulled up next to him. One of the men on the bikes demanded cash and brandished a knife.

The victim gave the suspect $70 in cash and the offenders drove off east along Pitts Bay Road.

Shortly before 9.15 p.m., a 37-year-old Pembroke man was attacked as he sat on a wall near The Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel having a phone conversation.

He told Police four men on two bikes drove past, stopped, turned around and rode towards him. Two of the men got off their cycle and approached the man, demanding money.

The victim gave them his wallet, which contained $180 cash and personal items, before they made off east along Pitts Bay Road.

The suspects in the first incident are described as four black men. Three were wearing dark coats and one a red coat.

In the second incident, the two main suspects are both described as dark-skinned. One was 6ft 5ins, of slim build, wearing a dark coat and grey helmet. The other was 5ft 10ins, of average build, with a dark coat and blue helmet. Both are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s. They were on a red scooter. The other suspects were on a blue scooter.

Police say they cannot be certain that both offences were carried out by the same men, but point out there were a number of similarities between the crimes.

Witnesses or anybody with information should telephone Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 1-800-623-8477.