annual tea for seniors hosted by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Lady Swan on the lawn at Camden.

The week for seniors, who make up more than one in ten of the Island's population, goes on until June 7.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons said the week is designed to highlight Bermuda's aging population and to boost the amount of work being done for older people. Other goals are to encourage respect for what older people had achieved in their lives and remind younger people they would one day be seniors, he said.

VISITORS VICTIMS OF BAG SNATCHERS CRM Visitors victims of bag snatchers Two visiting couples sped after a handbag snatching team in a bike chase in Southampton.

The two thieves had grabbed a handbag and attempted to snatch another as the visitors rode along South Road at 9.45 p.m. on Tuesday.

The chase ended after the crooks escaped by turning on to Church Road. The stolen bag contained a pair of glasses and a passport.

In a similar incident, a female visitor fell victim to two cycling handbag snatchers as she walked along Front Street.

The woman, off the cruise ship Westward , was strolling near the Bird Cage when the men struck. Her bag contained about $200 in cash and personal items.

PET DOG DOES HIS DUTY CRM Pet dog does his duty A family dog thwarted three teenagers from breaking into a house in Boundary Lane, St. George's.

The animal's barking frightened off the would-be thieves on Tuesday afternoon.

They were seen running away by a 12-year-old boy inside the house.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Andrea Browne said the boy looked out the door after being alerted by the barking.

THIEVES STRIKE IN DEVONSHIRE CRM Thieves strike in Devonshire Jewellery and cash worth over $3,000 were snatched from a property in Mingston Lane, Devonshire, on Tuesday afternoon.

In another incident, would-be thieves caused about $400 damage as they tried to break into a house in Curving Avenue, Pembroke.

FOOD THIEF FINED $200 CTS Food thief fined $200 An apprentice butcher at J.S. Vallis was caught red-handed stealing from the company, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

Anthony Joseph Bascombe, of Laffan Street, Pembroke, admitted stealing food worth more than $62 and was fined $200. Insp. Peter Duffy, prosecuting, told the court that Bascombe was stopped leaving work on April 10, after bosses suspecting theft from their warehouse decided to make random checks. Stolen food was found in his bag, and he also confessed to stealing three pounds of shrimp earlier.

Insp. Duffy said he understood Bascombe had now lost his job. Bascombe, 19, said: "It was not of my character. I got caught in a peer pressure type of thing with other employees. I just happened to get caught at the wrong time.

I'm sorry.'' POLICE SEEK WARWICK PROWLER CRM Police seek Warwick prowler A prowler spotted around midnight on Monday at a home on Pearman's Hill, Warwick, is being hunted by Police. The prowler, a tall light-skinned man with a colourful shirt, fled when the porch light of the house came on.

A thief got away with the cover of a car parked in the service car park of Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort on Monday. The heavy duty cover is tan, with the number 01395 on it.

COSTLY NYC TRIP CTS Costly NYC trip A Warwick man who bought cannabis in Manhattan was caught when he flew back into Bermuda on his birthday, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday. Jamal Melvin Bean, 22, of Rocklands Crescent, admitted possessing 1.09 grams of the drug on March 7 and was fined $150.