Robbers armed with handguns struck twice in Bermuda last night as a wave of crime continued.

At 7 p.m., a man armed with a handgun entered Pleasant View Variety near West Pembroke Primary School on North Shore Road, Police said.

He took cash from the female clerk and escaped on foot. A description of the man was not available at Press time.

Forty five minutes later on Court Street, three men robbed a man on the street after one of them produced a handgun, Police said.

Descriptions were not available and it was not immediately known whether the two robberies were related. No shots were fired in either incident.

Last night's robberies followed an incident Wednesday night in which three thugs robbed a 36-year-old St. George's man at knife point in Hamilton.

They pounced as their victim walked along Angle Street at about 7.30 p.m.

After threatening him with a knife, the men punched him in the face, splitting his lip.

One of the robbers then managed to take $30 from him.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Roseanda Jones said the descriptions of the men in Wednesday night's incident were rather vague.

One of the men, however, was known to be driving a light green car.

He was roughly 5ft 8in, had light brown skin and curly hair, and was wearing a white shirt with blue jeans.

Anyone able to help Police with any of the incidents should contact Central CID on 295-0011.

The robberies come amid widespread concerns about growing violent crime in Bermuda, particularly involving handguns.

Early on Sunday morning, a young Bermudian was blasted with five bullets after a man with a gun entered The Spinning Wheel Night Club on Court Street and began firing.

On October 14, a man entered the crowded Southampton Princess branch of the Bank of Butterfield at lunch time and fired a shot from a handgun before making off with a quantity of cash.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan is expected to address the crime wave in a statement to the House of Assembly today.

Sir John is expected to detail an amnesty period during which Bermudians can turn in their illegal guns without penalty.

And plans for stiffer firearm penalties will be spelled out -- possibly mandatory ten year sentences for firearm possession and life in prison for importing guns.

Rewards have been discussed for those who give information to Police about people with guns.

Police suspect many guns entering Bermuda come by way of cargo ships and end up in the hands of drug dealers.