Elderly residents in a crime-hit housing complex could be in line for security alarms, a six-foot wall around the estate and better lighting and security, a public meeting last night heard.

The meeting was called in response to concerns from seniors at the Heydon Park estate in Sandys who have been preyed on by burglars, con artists and muggers.

A neighbourhood watch scheme is to be set up as well to help ease the fears of the elderly residents. An 84-year-old resident in the sheltered housing complex was recently robbed of $94 by a knife-wielding intruder in the early hours of the morning. Con artists have been targeting the estate trying to dupe the residents into giving cash for relatives who are allegedly sick.

Police crime prevention officer Eric Bean made the detailed security recommendations in a report to Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC), which manages the 19-unit development. And BHC acting general manager Deborah Blakeney promised the 50 people at the meeting she will take the request to Bermuda Housing Trust, which owns the houses, and argue for improvements.

The meeting in St. James' Church Hall, Sandys, heard elderly residents had problems sleeping because they were worried by the criminals banging on doors at all hours of the night looking for money or breaking-in.

Poor street lighting and overgrown bushes and trees made it easy for criminals to hide and break-in. One woman said an elderly female relative had to recently throw a cup of tea over an intruder she discovered in her kitchen. And she said police had done nothing when she complained.

She suggested putting barbed wire around the estate. "It will cost money, but it will work, it will make them safe," she said.

Mr. Bean said he had recommended two six feet walls at ends of the estate, improved lighting, more sensor lights, peep holes in doors, a change to locks on doors and windows, panic alarms for residents, cutting back on trees and bushes, and trespass and closed circuit television signs being erected.

Ms Blakeney told the meeting: "The best I can do is take the recommendations to Bermuda Housing Trust and say that these are reasonable and I will tell them the cost is not something we need to be worried about.

"I see here people who want something to be done and they deserve something to be done." Community Constable Donville Yarde, who helped organise the meeting, said: "I believe these people have made a great contribution to Bermuda and now its time that we should start giving back to them. They don't know to sleep because they are afraid of what will happen because of the security breaches."