The 15-year-old girl allegedly robbed of her cell phone at gunpoint this weekend is to undergo counselling to help her cope with the experience.

Her mother is now urging other parents to beware she claims the "brazen" attack is evidence that violent crime is now commonplace.

A burglar is reported to have put a gun to the teenager's head and demanded her BlackBerry as she walked along Par-la-Ville Road with friends early Saturday evening. The teenager's family has asked not to be identified yesterday her mother said they were trying to cope with the shock. "We're shaken up but we're doing the best we can. We're upset, we're angry, but we're just thankful she's alive. Once we realised that she was OK and she wasn't hurt that was our main priority."

She added: "We need to be very sure we catch these people who think they can go ahead and do something like this."

Police have reported that two men on a bike approached the teenager and her three girlfriends as they walked near the junction of Par-la-Ville and Rosebank Roads around 7.20 p.m. Saturday. One of the men put a gun to the victim's head and demanded her phone, the mother of one of the friends with her has claimed.

The man is said to have fled the scene on foot in the direction of Bermudiana Road. The man on the bike drove off.

The girls were all between the ages of 15 and 16 years old.

Contacted yesterday, the mother of the victim said her daughter's experience showed that violent crime is becoming commonplace on the Island.

She said the family has pulled together in the wake of the attack, but is angry that it happened in the first place.

And she said of her daughter: "She's coping, but we're going to seek counselling for her because what happened was very traumatic. "I think it's a sign of Bermuda as a whole, if somebody does that in Hamilton and only just as it got dark they're brazen."

She added that violence in Bermuda was becoming routine.

"It used to be just between gangs they're branching out to easy pickings. It's going to be the whole Island, from Dockyard to St. George's."

She said she was shocked that violent crime had struck so close to home, and hoped every parent took her daughter's experience seriously. "People don't think it will happen to them, but it's here now. And the people who know need to speak up so that these people are brought to justice."

That sentiment was echoed by Shadow National Security Minister Michael Dunkley.

Senator Dunkley said: "What is particularly disturbing is that the incidents of violence with dangerous weapons and guns have become so frequent that many Bermudians are becoming used to it — to accepting it as part of our way of life."

He said the "creeping sense of resignation about the crime situation" must be fought.

"We have seen some recent examples, such as the incident last week in Loyal Hill, where members of the community stepped forward to say enough is enough. While I do not support the alleged beating of the culprit, it is reassuring to see good people rise up and take a stand with the Police to protect our neighbourhoods. All of us can play a part in stemming the tide. By working together we can make a difference."

Police are investigating the incident. Anyone in the area at the time is asked to call 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hot line, 800-8477.