A gang of thugs viciously attacked a pedestrian with baseball bats and robbed him of $200 in cash in broad daylight.

The 39-year-old victim suffered facial injuries in the assault and was last night said to be "in a great deal of pain" but stable on a general ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Police say he had been counting the money after taking it out of his pocket as he walked along the road in Pembroke, at about 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Three or four baseball bat-wielding offenders approached him from behind and struck him on the back, knocking him to the floor.

They then beat him about the head and body before taking his cash and escaping, possibly by car.

Bermuda Police Service spokesman Robin Simmons described the assault as "vicious".

"He was attacked from behind and robbed," said Mr. Simmons.

"He was in a great deal of pain when Police spoke to him in hospital. He's just been beaten up by a number of individuals so I imagine he's feeling shocked.

"His account has been fairly vague in some respects. He was down on the floor so he didn't see much.

"Police condemn the actions of the individuals involved and we would encourage anyone with information about the incident to come forward and help us with our investigation."

Officers suspect the offenders may have been opportunists who spotted the victim had cash in his hands. Mr. Simmons urged people not to make themselves potential victims of crime by walking in a public place with their money on display.

He said: "We would always advise people not to have cash or other valuables out while they are walking down the road.

"It's not in your best interests to do that because it makes yourself a target. You don't want to do anything that can make you a victim of crime.

"If you want to count your cash, wait until you get home where you can count it safely."

Speaking to officers in hospital, the victim, a Hamilton Parish man, said he had been walking east along Parsons Road and then began to walk along Glebe Road, where he took the money out of his pocket.

He was then attacked before being taken by ambulance to KEMH, where his condition was yesterday evening described as stable.

His facial injuries have been described as lacerations.

It is not believed he sustained serious injuries to the rest of his body. Police say there are no descriptions of the offenders.Witnesses or anyone else with information should telephone Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.