Shadow Minister of Tourism Cole Simons is pleading with young thugs to think before they act — after a recent spate of violence towards women and tourists.

A 31-year-old British woman was reportedly robbed at gunpoint by two men on motorcycle on Saturday.

A 15-year-old girl was robbed of her cell phone at gunpoint on Par-la-Ville Road earlier this month; an unrelated incident saw an expatriate woman groped by a stranger on a bike as she rode home from work.

Mr Simons said the criminal activity was having an effect on the Island's tourism and international business sectors, and urged the culprits to think before striking again.

"Before they get involved in any more nefarious activity, please consider what long-term impact it will have on their wife, their husband, their children, their parents and the rest of the families," he said.

"When thinking about your next crime, please note that it will not help your family get back to work. It will not put food on your table. It will not pay your bills. It will not help make the life of your children, or nieces or nephews any easier.

"Please note that this anti-social and sometimes illegal behaviour is not just a threat to the victim, be it tourists or locals, it will be a threat to the success of all of our Bermudian families. It will be an impediment to Bermuda's economic recovery. It will also be an impediment to our tourism, and the members of your family members who work in the tourism industry.

"If you want to keep Bermuda, and our families in an economic spiral of decline, you are on the right path."

The United Bermuda Party MP offered his apologies to Saturday's victim and urged both tourists and locals to make sound decisions concerning their welfare when returning home at night.

"No matter where you are in the world, wandering home alone in the early hours is not always advisable, and our first priority should be to protect ourselves from any unforeseen dangers — availing of taxi services were possible."

Meanwhile the woman groped while riding her bike home last week also urged women to follow their intuition to avoid such attacks.

The woman who asked not to be named, advised: "If you feel nervous do not just think you are being silly and do not think you have to get home. Drive into the nearest gas station or grocery store you shouldn't think it won't happen to you."

The woman admitted to still feeling terrified riding home at night and said it will take a long time to feel safe again in Bermuda.

She said: "I am not sure what [these attackers] are thinking. I am really confused and really upset about why someone thought they could put their hands on someone's wife or daughter. I have no idea."

For information on what you can do to stay safe in the community visit the Bermuda Police Service's website on www.police.bm.