An American couple are warning tourists to hold onto their belongings when they come to Bermuda, after they suffered an attempted robbery on South Shore Road.

Cruise passengers Sandra and Thomas Pugliese were riding on a rental cycle in broad daylight near Horseshoe Beach when a man on a motorcycle tried to snatch their backpack from the basket of their scooter.

The couple, from New Rochelle, New York State, managed to hang onto the bag, which was strapped on, and stay upright but they say the experience left them shaken.

“I’m going to think twice about going back,” Mrs Pugliese, told The Royal Gazette. “This is maybe my fourth or fifth time there. I don’t think I will be returning any time soon.”

The incident happened just 20 minutes after the couple stepped off the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway ship at Dockyard and rented a scooter from Eve’s Cycles on September 18.

Mrs Pugliese said their assailant rode off after the attempted mugging and they called police from Tio Pepe restaurant. They later opted not to give formal statements to officers as they did not want to attend a police station during their vacation.

Mrs Pugliese said a resident who witnessed what happened told the couple that gang crime was on the increase on the Island and Bermuda was no longer such a safe place.

She said she wished the cruise line had told them about gang activity, though she admitted it did warn passengers to be careful when renting bikes.

“It’s such a short trip [to Bermuda],” she said. “It’s a beautiful island, the people are beautiful people [but] I just did not expect to see this.

“We wanted them [the assailant] caught and we wanted this out [there] to protect other people.”

The 51-year-old said she received a letter from NCL after she complained which said the cruise line was sorry the visit to Bermuda was not a positive one.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said police officers responded to the attempted bag snatch at about 11.30am on September 18.

“The unknown motorcyclist attempted to take their bag from the rental cycle’s basket; however, the would-be thief was unsuccessful, as the bag was properly secured in the basket by a strap,” he said.

“A number of requests were made to the couple to provide formal statements but these were declined, with the visitors stating they did not wish to pursue the matter further.

“The Bermuda Police Service regularly provides advice to cycle rental companies that they pass on to visitors about securing their bags and other valuable property under the seat, if possible, or securely fastened to the basket.”

Lloyd Alick, from Eve’s Cycles, said those renting bikes were always warned about the dangers of riding with their belongings visible.

NCL did not respond to a request for comment.