Pitt's Bay Road area of Hamilton area.

And plans to put in new lighting and closed circuit cameras are also a step closer.

Two more muggings were recorded on Sunday in the Pitt's Bay Road area -- following on from three other incidents in the vicinity in the last three weeks.

A bike rider snatched a handbag from a 43-year-old tourist as he rode past her as she walked west along Pitt's Bay Road at noon. She lost a wallet and credit cards but was not injured.

And a 56-year-old woman lost her bag containing cash and glasses in a similar ride-by robbery in a car park near the Hamilton Princess in Pitt's Bay road at 8.30 p.m.

Acting Detective Sergeant Adrian Cook told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "There is a much bigger Police presence than people would think, especially in those areas.

"Police response has been more than adequate. It's quite heavy.'' And Government is putting in extra lights in the area. And Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said there was fibre optic cable already down which had been owned by defunct telecommunications company Quantum.

But he said until a new owner bought the company the work could not be started.