Two American visitors were robbed at gunpoint outside the Royal Towers, Atlantis Resort and Casino, early yesterday morning, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said.

 Police said around 1 a.m. a man armed with a handgun approached them and demanded cash.

 The suspect fled the area on foot after robbing them. No one was hurt during the incident.

 It is unclear whether the visitors were exiting or entering the hotel.

Police believe the victims were guests at Atlantis, though no hotel representative confirmed this.

Ferguson said the suspect, who was only described as a dark man, was still at large yesterday.

Anyone with information on the armed robbery is asked to contact police at 919 or 328-TIPS.

While general theft of personal property remains the most common crime against tourists, an American visitor was recently murdered.

 Kyle Bruner, 34, of Chicago, Illinois, was shot dead during an armed robbery around 4:30 a.m. on May 12, police said.

Police said Bruner was trying to defend a female friend who was being robbed on Mackey Street near East Bay Street.

Acting U.S. Charge d'Affaires John Armstrong told The Nassau Guardian in March that crime is a major issue here.

 "I will be perfectly honest, Bahamian officials, average Bahamians, American diplomats and other diplomats have noticed that there's a serious situation," Armstrong said.

"The murder rate has recently dropped some and that's a good sign, but with some other crimes, based on what the media said and Bahamian law officials, basically the trend has been in a different direction."

He added that the U.S. Embassy has an obligation to warn U.S. citizens of crime trends.

The most recent warning was issued last month.

 The release said that armed robbery remains a major threat facing U.S. citizens in The Bahamas.

 It also said that since the beginning of the year, a number of U.S. citizens have fallen victim to armed robbery with some seriously injured in the commission of these crimes.

 Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said recently that something must be done to arrest the crime situation in the country before it is too late.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian