They have urged the public and visitors to take care and not become a target for opportunist thieves who are on the look out for easy-to-steal items on cycles.

In the latest incident earlier this week, an American tourist attempted to stop thieves who stole a purse from a basket on the rear of his partner's auxiliary machine.

The incident, which happened at 5 p.m. on South Road, Smith's, was witnessed by several people. It was the third in recent weeks.

A Police spokesman said the couple were riding close to Harrington Hundreds grocery store on separate machines when they noticed two males parked on a cycle nearby.

The men approached from behind and took the purse. In the chase that ensued, the culprits fell off their machine into bushes.

The male victim followed on foot and managed to restrain one of the thieves after a violent struggle, before both men escaped and ran off along South Road.

The tourist suffered cuts and abrasions to his face and legs, he was later treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Police are asking for any witnesses to contact them at Eastern CID on 295 0011.

A Police spokesman urged people to ensure items in rear baskets are not visible to reduce the chance that thieves will be alerted.

"Cover things up away from sight to deter potential criminals,'' he said.

And he added that people should not try to escape because of the risk of an accident.

"We wouldn't recommend taking any evasive action, you could have a handbag snatch and an accident, or a handbag snatch,'' he said.

MAN ADMITS TO CULTIVATING 17 MARIJUANA PLANTS CTS Man admits to cultivating 17 marijuana plants A St. George's man was fined and given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to cultivating marijuana.

David Barclay Adams, 27, of Duke of Kent Street cleared an area in the trees on Stokes Point road and was growing 17 marijuana plants.

Narcotics officers attended the scene after a tip off and discovered the plants, gardening equipment, and two home made water catches.

They photographed the area, left it untouched, and placed a video camera at the location to carry out surveillance to see who was cultivating the plants.

At 6 a.m. on June 28, Adams was recorded tending to the plants.

Officers later arrested Adams and he readily admitted clearing the land, planting the seeds, and tending to the plants.

He also readily identified himself on the video but said he was growing the plants for his personal use.

In mitigation, Adams said :"I am sorry for wasting the courts time.

"I am no menace to society and this is the first time I have ever been involved in this type of activity.'' He also said he had co-operated entirely with Police, and referenced a case earlier in the year where 62 plants had been grown by a person who received a $3,000 fine.

He said he was very sorry for what he had done and sorry for the embarrassment to his family, and he promised it would never happen again.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "Mr. Adams, as you well know, any drug offence in Bermuda is a serious offence and cultivation is a particularly serious one.'' He also highlighted the difference between the one-off crime of buying a bag of weed to smoke compared to the systematic and calculated process of cultivating.

Mr. Warner considered everything Adams had said and told him the maximum punishment was the same penalty as possession with intent to supply, namely a term of five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $10,000.

Mr. Warner fined Adams $3,000 and sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Adams asked for time to pay the fine as he is a self employed fisherman and did not have that much money available.

Mr. Warner said the offence happened in June and as he had pleaded guilty, he knew there would be some repercussions, most likely a fine, and by not preparing it showed he did not care.

Adams pleaded with Mr. Warner to give him time to pay the fine and he offered to pay $500 immediately.

Mr. Warner ostracised Adams for not being able to pay the fines and asked him if he expected to walk out a free man.

He said : "The law is clearly designed to be a punishment and a deterrent,'' and ordered Adams to pay $500 forthwith and the rest by October 20 or spend 120 days in prison in default.

MAN FINED FOR OBSTRUCTION CTS Man fined for obstruction A Paget man charged with obstructing justice claims he ran from officers because he feared they were gang members.

But in Magistrates' Court Perry Puckerin was fined $200 after eventually pleading guilty to the charge.

In his defence, Puckerin, 44, of Footbridge Lane, told Magistrate Will Francis that Police wearing baseball caps and carrying sticks ran at him in the dark, and failed to identify themselves.

"With all the gang violence, I thought a rival gang was coming around for vengeance -- I was just trying to protect myself,'' he said.

But Crown Counsel Graveney Bannister said Police claimed Puckerin was standing near the junction of Elliot and Court Street on the evening of September 2, in an area known to the Police for drug sales.

He said they approached him and began talking to him on another matter, when he started acting nervously, sticking his right hand in his pocket and fidgeting.

Police told Puckerin he would be searched under the Misuse of Drug Act but he ran off.

He was caught after a chase through backyards and taken to Hamilton Police station, where he was charged.

CRIME CRM