The United States Embassy in Nassau warned Americans yesterday of a scam in which criminals, under the guise of good samaritans, are reportedly preying on motorists whose vehicles are disabled. In an advisory, the embassy said, "The scam involves someone tampering with a vehicle in advance, such as deflating its tire(s).

"When the driver attempts to make the repair, a nearby good samaritan offers assistance. "While the driver is distracted, another individual steals property from inside the car."

The embassy did not say when these incidents occurred or how many cases there have been. It reminded U.S. citizens to "be aware of your location at all times while driving in The Bahamas, maintain a general awareness of the condition of your car and tires, and to contact local police to report if you fall victim to this theft scam".

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dean said he was not aware of these incidents.

He told The Nassau Guardian authorities would issue a warning if there were any trends. He was careful not to respond to the embassy directly.

This is not the first time the embassy has issued warnings referencing crimes that have not been reported by the police to the Bahamian public.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State warned its citizens traveling to The Bahamas for spring break against using Jet Skis, as "Jet Ski operators continue to commit sexual assaults and other crimes against tourists, including U.S. citizens".

While the department indicated that cases of Jet Ski operators assaulting visitors had persisted, there were no local reports to reflect the same. Senior law enforcement officials declined to speak on the matter, noting that the government would be best suited to respond to the embassy.

The U.S. Embassy also issued a crime warning in April 2014 of the attempted armed robbery of an armored truck at a Wendy's restaurant in western New Providence.

The matter was not included in police crime reports. Authorities confirmed the attempted armed robbery of the armored truck and said a firearm was recovered. Law enforcement officials contended that police do not cover up or downplay any crime.

In November 2013, the embassy sent out a warning to its citizens highlighting at least three incidents where machete-wielding assailants robbed American visitors on Freeport, Grand Bahama, in a six-month period. One of the robberies took place in a visitor's hotel room.

Authorities confirmed the incidents, calling them unfortunate, but isolated.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian