A “quiet and secluded” Warwick neighbourhood has rallied together after a string of break-ins, including a high-profile standoff between police and a burglary suspect who claimed to be armed.

The Rockland and Swansville communities have formed a neighbourhood watch with the help of police, who will address residents at a meeting tonight expected to be attended by area MPs.

Resident Dilton Lightbourn, who has lived in the area for close to 45 years, called the recent incidents “unreal”.

“Normally the neighbourhood’s very quiet. But I think with people losing their jobs and guys not working, this is how the problem started,” Mr Lightbourn said.

November 19 saw a five-hour siege of a Rockland Crescent home by armed police, after officers responded to an 11am report of a burglary. Three men were arrested but a fourth suspect barricaded himself into a nearby residence — eventually surrendering by 4pm.

“He was holed up with one of the residents held hostage for hours, with what they assumed was a gun,” Mr Lightbourn said. “Police talked to the culprit and finally he came out. Fortunately the resident was not hurt, and apparently the guy didn’t get any money.”

That same month, police reported a spate of burglaries in Warwick, affecting Rockland Crescent, Second Avenue, Sun Valley Road and the Lusher Lane and Pearman’s Hill West area, as well as Spice Hill Road.

Mr Lightbourn said a neighbourhood resident around that time reported surprising an intruder in his house, who ran off after being discovered — and a senior citizen living on Rockland Road returned home from vacation to find clothing and electronics stolen.

“Through the neighbourhood there were four or five break-ins around then,” he said.

The area has had a neighbourhood watch group before, but the initiative died down after gradual attrition cut down on numbers.

Tonight’s meeting to restart the initiative is set for 6pm at Warwick Holiness Church on Spice Hill Road, and has been arranged in conjunction with the Community Action Team of the Bermuda Police Service.