Premier Michael Dunkley and Marc Bean, the Leader of the Opposition, joined forces yesterday to put a positive spin on bad news when they welcomed American visitors Robert and Marion Zinman to the House of Assembly.

The elderly New York couple had been the victims of a daylight armed robbery on the Railway Trail in Sandys on Wednesday, when Mrs Zinman’s handbag was taken, containing a cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The thief was believed to be a hammer-wielding teenager.

Yesterday, after tracking down the couple and inviting them to Parliament, the Premier and Mr Bean expressed their sincere regret about the incident and inquired about their wellbeing.

The Zinmans said the incident had not dampened their view of Bermuda and pledged to return.