Teen robbed during Harbour Nights

A teenager lost an IPOD MP3 player valued at $750 and a gold chain worth $900 to a group of about five youths as he walked along Front Street on Harbour Nights this week.

Police say that the boy was walking with friends close to the Birdcage when the group surrounded them and demanded that he “give up the chain”.

After ripping off the chain from his neck, another youth grabbed another chain but only managed to get a ring attached to it before the group ran off.

“The complainant also had an IPOD MP3 player on his hip and that also was stolen from him by the young bandits,” the Police report states.

“The culprits then made good their escape on bikes that were parked in the area.”

Police describe the “main culprit” as 16 years of age and between 5ft 7in and 5ft 8in with a close hair cut. He had on a white shirt with black trim around the edge of the sleeves and neckline, and dark long work pants. And the other was wearing a green T-shirt.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Hamilton CID at 295-0011.

Handbag snatched by thief

A woman lost her handbag to a thief on a motorcycle on Richmond Road on Wednesday night, Police reported yesterday.

The Horizons Cruises worker was walking with her husband around 10 p.m. after leaving the Robin Hood Pub when the culprit - described as dark-skinned and very skinny and wearing a dark helmet - came along and snatched the handbag.

According to the Police report the handbag contained a “host of personal effects” and is orange with brown handles and about ten inches long and three inches high.

Salvation Army on the move

The administrative department of the Salvation Army has moved from its Reid Street offices to the Hamilton Citadel on North Street. Salvation Army leader Major Lindsay Rowe said: “It is basically just a cost saving move.”

On September 1, the Reid Street location will be rented out to a boutique and a salon, which will generate income for the charity. Major Rowe said the move was not prompted by a reduction in Government funding or private donations.

Visitor thwarts stick wielding thief

A would-be thief lashed out with a stick after a visitor refused him money.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the junction of Parliament and Court streets.

The visitor was then pursued by the man as he ran towards Hamilton Police station and reported the incident.

Police say the visitor was slightly hurt from a fall.

Inquest: Man ‘died by shark'

Magistrate William Francis determined that Leonard Junior (Sam) Outerbridge fell off his fishing boat and “died by shark” at an inquest held at Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Mr. Outerbridge was reported missing on November 25, 2003 when he didn't come home from fishing. His wife, Susan Outerbrigde, was alarmed when her husband failed to answer his cell phone or respond to calls on his VHF radio. Harbour Radio found his boat, Peanuts Two Too, floating empty three-and-a-half-miles south south-west of Castle Island later that night. The only thing they found on the boat was a broken pair of sunglasses and some bait. A US Coast Guard plane searched for two days but could not find Mr. Outerbridge.

Mr. Outerbridge, who could not swim, had been working on his deep shark lines when he disappeared. Mr. Francis offered his condolences to the family and determined that Mr. Ourterbridge fell off his boat and died by shark.