acted instinctively. They reached for their guns, and yelled: "Freeze!'' But this was Bermuda not the US ... and their hands failed to touch the comforting metal of their standard 46-round Beritas.

The startled prowlers fled, and the Alabama officers broke off their Bermudian holiday to give chase.

Unfamiliar with the terrain, however, they soon gave up the pursuit and let the local Force take over. But despite a extensive search the would-be thieves escaped.

The drama occurred as officers Mitchell and Wise were walking on Lollys Well Road in Smith's. They spotted two men peering through the window of a property.

"We forgot we weren't in the United States,'' exclaimed Officer Wise yesterday. "I reached for my gun and yelled "freeze!''. I am so used to carrying a gun it was an automatic reaction.'' He added the men were about 13 feet away when they saw them.

"We ran about 20 or 30 yards, but weren't familiar with the area so we decided to ring for the Bermuda Police.'' The pair, who leave the Island tomorrow, say local officers were at the scene in about two minutes.

"The response time was incredibly good, and we helped the Bermudian officers search the area thoroughly,'' said Officer Wise.

"We would have tried to apprehend the men if we caught up with them.'' To the two officers -- who patrol the streets of Alabama together -- there was nothing extraordinary in what they did.

"The Police Force is like a brotherhood and we help each other out, whatever country we are in,'' said Officer Mitchell. "It is also a 24-hour job and you are never off duty.'' And the two men have earned the thanks of Bermuda's Police Commissioner Lennie Edwards. He has given them special tie-pins to commend their achievement.

Yesterday Police spokesman Sgt. John Dale said: "The officers acted in a dedicated way, typical of most Policemen.'' He added one of the prowlers was dark skinned, and wearing a yellow short sleeved T-shirt. The other was light skinned, and wearing a white T-shirt with a face on it.

JOINING FORCES -- Alabama officers Terry Wise and Steve Mitchell, both 25, show off their tie-pins. In the centre is Bermuda Policeman Sgt. John Dale (see story below).