A crime prevention activist is calling for better safety measures at hotels and guesthouses after six tourist properties were burgled in the last three months.

Takbir Sharrieff of Bermudians Against Narcotics, said visitors had become "a soft target to criminals and drug money motivated attacks".

His comments came after husband and wife visitors were robbed at gunpoint at Grotto Bay and another pair was robbed at a Smith's guesthouse.

Police revealed new figures showing the number of burglaries on guest properties had doubled to six this July, August and September, from three last year.

The amount of burglaries on tourist accommodations has however dropped significantly compared to 2006 and 2007, when 81 and 70 thefts were reported respectively.

So far this year there have been 13 such burglaries, according to crime statistics.

But Mr. Sharrieff, a former Police officer and security guard, said the issue was still an ongoing problem.

He said some hotels needed more security guards stationed on their properties.

"The Police have been aware of this problem for many years. When the public become more conscious [of legal suits] this matter will change," he said.

He criticised attempts to offer suffering guests plane tickets to return to the Island and said it only gave the criminal a chance to "get another bite on the apple".

He called the move "irresponsible and unacceptable".

"Before any guesthouse and hotel is licensed to operate it should have its security in place acceptable at a safety level and checked at regular intervals by the Police.

"Fines should be levied and appropriate actions should be taken in the courts. Our visitors and all hotel guests and staff deserve no less," he said.

Bermuda Hotel Association executive vice president John Harvey said a combination of professional security guards and assistance from the Police service was "paying dividends".

"Everything is constantly under review but at the moment I think we have the formula. The results speak to it.

"These officers they welcome the visitors all hours of the day and night, in the east and west end.

"They are invited to come into the property to be seen and that is ongoing and I think these are effective preventive measures."

He said the number of hotels with security cameras had also greatly improved.

Norman Mastalir, managing director of Fairmont Hotels Bermuda, said both Fairmont properties in Southampton and Hamilton had "fully-manned 24-hour security operations to ensure the safety of our colleagues and guests".

"As a result of the recent events, procedures and protocols have been reviewed and in some cases security presence has been increased or extended.

"The safety of our guests and colleagues is a primary concern at all times."

Meanwhile a Royal Palms Hotel spokeswoman said they had maintained a good relationship with officers and other hotels in order to stay vigilant.

"We have our own live-in security staff on property and we are in the process of installing cameras. There are two such live-in staff that have many roles and one of them happens to be security.

"The cameras are for an additional safety measure. Times are changing and our main concern is making sure the guests and staff are safe," she said.