the attempted theft of $13,000 in jewellery and cash from a visitor.

Michael Shaki Talbot, of St. John's Road, denies attempting to steal $13,810 from Jill Hepworth Crompton on Saturday night.

Police report that two men approached the visitor on Front Street at 11.10 p.m., grabbed her bag and headed off in different directions.

The thieves were chased by two companions of the victim, and they were joined by two ex-Police officers after they heard the commotion.

One was eventually apprehended outside the Police Station and the woman's bag was retrieved.

Talbot was freed on $1,000 bail with one like surety to reappear in Magistrates' Court on April 19, 1999.

TRAVELLER FINED $300 FOR `STUPID' ACT CTS Traveller fined $300 for `stupid' act A Warwick man who claimed he "grabbed everything in a rush'' before leaving for a flight to the US was fined $300 for having drugs at the Airport.

Yesterday, Senior Magistrate Will Francis heard that Alan Lynn Webb was searched by US Customs at 11.50 a.m. at the Airport on October 20.

They found a homemade cigarette with plant material inside, a pipe, five pay type envelopes, and Rizla cigarette papers.

Crown counsel Veronica Gordon said Bermuda Police arrested Webb a short time later.

Webb, 48, of Spice Hill Road, told Police: "Man it was so stupid. I was just so happy to be leaving I just grabbed everything in a rush.'' Ms Gordon said the Government Analyst found the plant material to be .21 grams of cannabis, and washings of the envelopes and pipe tested positive for cannabis.

Webb told Mr. Francis: "I just apologise for it. It is purely an oversight. I was just rushing to catch the plane.'' Mr. Francis fined Webb $200 for having the cannabis and $100 for having the drug equipment.

POLICE ISSUE WARNING TO IMPAIRED DRIVERS POL CRM Police issue warning to impaired drivers The Bermuda Police Service has issued a warning against drink driving after two people were arrested at accident scenes on Sunday.

The men were detained on suspicion of impaired driving in single vehicle incidents.

A Police spokeswoman said that with the many Christmas parties taking place this season, many people who may imbibe too much are advised not to drink and drive.

Hosts of parties are also advised to warn friends against driving when they have had too much to drink.

The spokeswoman added: "This is to avoid finding out later that your friends have met an accident.'' MAN BANNED AFTER REFUSING BREATHALYSER CTS Man banned after refusing breathalyser A 38-year-old Devonshire man was taken off the road after pleading guilty to impaired driving.

Dennis Pacheco, of Astwood Cove, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Veronica Gordon said Police attended the scene of an accident at the corner of Elliot and Washington Street in which Pacheco was involved.

When officers asked Pacheco to talk to him, they asked him if he had been drinking and Pacheco replied: "I had a few drinks.'' But Pacheco refused to comply with a request for a breath sample.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis fined him $450 and disqualified him from all vehicles for 12 months.

FIREFIGHERS CALLED OUT FIR Firefighters called out The Bermuda Fire Service were called out early yesterday morning to handle a flooding at a St. George's home.

Two trucks and fire personnel vacuumed up a half of an inch of water from a Redcoat Lane apartment after receiving a call at 7.25 a.m.