Terrified tourists were forced to hand over $200 in cash and personal items to a robber who entered their hotel room late Monday night demanding money, Police said yesterday.

And a female visitor was dragged along Pitts Bay Road less than two hours earlier by a motorcyclist who swooped past the pedestrian and snatched her handbag.

The incidents ? along with a second bag-snatching at around the same time in Warwick ? prompted Police yesterday to issue an urgent warning to visitors to be on their guard to prevent repeats of the incidents.

Police said the robbery took place at around 11.15 p.m. when a man entered a room at a Hamilton Parish guest property and demanded money from the visiting couple.

?He searched their bags, removing a red leather wallet containing US$200 in cash and personal items before making good his escape,? Police said.

The couple was not injured by the robber, who wore a light-grey hooded sweatshirt and black pants, it said. However, Police appealed for any witnesses to contact the St. George?s Criminal Investigation Unit on 297-1122.

The Pitts Bay Road bag snatching took place at 9.40 p.m. when two visiting women were walking home and a dark-skinned male wearing dark clothing and a black helmet rode alongside them on a black motorcycle and grabbed one of their handbags.

?The suspect dragged the female visitor a short distance before she let go of the handbag and he made good his escape,? Police said.

?She apparently was not injured.?

Her black leather bag contained a Samsung cellular phone, a Pentax digital camera and personal items, Police said.

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011, it said.

And a similar modus operandi was used against another visiting couple on South Shore Road, Warwick, near the junction with Dunscombe Road at around 9.30 p.m. on Monday, it said.

Police said the victims were walking back to their guest accommodations when a dark-skinned man with a small build, wearing a grey shirt and blue-checked cargo shorts and white sneakers, rode a silver livery cycle alongside them.

The handbag snatcher grabbed a blue and white beach bag containing a grey Olympus camera, $10 cash and personal items off the female visitor?s shoulder, it said, however, she was not injured.

A member of the public gave chase after he was alerted by the visitors? shouts, it said, but the suspect eluded him.

Police also appealed for any witnesses to this incident to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

Police said visitors could reduce their chances of becoming a victim by maintaining ?full awareness of their surroundings at all times?.

In addition, Police said there has been a spate of burglaries and urged residents to make sure all windows and doors at their homes were locked before leaving the premises unattended.