ending Sunday, the Finance Ministry reported yesterday.

Nearly 8,600 people passed through the airport during the week, or 538 fewer than in the same period last year.

Airport arrivals for April through to last week -- the high season -- are down just 0.6 percent compared to 1991.

WOMAN ROBBED CRM Woman robbed A 21-year-old woman was robbed shortly after being dropped off outside her front door by a taxi at around 3.30 a.m. yesterday.

The woman, from Whitney Avenue, Pembroke, was searching for her house key when the thief jumped out of some bushes and stole her purse, which contained $25 and a bank card.

The thief was described as dark skinned, 5ft 10in, of medium build, and with short cropped hair. He was wearing a red, navy and white tracksuit top and dark jeans.

Police have now issued advice on how to combat such thefts, including installing good outdoor lighting. They also suggest people have their house key in their hand before letting themselves in.

TEEN STOLE SODA CTS Teen stole soda A Warwick teenager who admitted he stole a bottle of soda from a Paget supermarket was given a year's probation in Magistrates' Court yesterday. The court heard that on the evening of September 4, Jermaine Hayward of Smiths Avenue entered the Modern Mart, and picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Punch. He then drank half of the contents, placed the bottle on the floor, and left the premises.

When the 18-year-old was stopped by the supermarket manager, he admitted not paying for the drink.

Hayward later told Police he was thirsty after swimming at Grape Bay that afternoon, but he only had 26 cents with him and couldn't afford to buy a drink.

Hayward, who was already on probation for another offence, apologised in court for his actions.

HUNGRY THIEF CTS Hungry thief A restaurant employee's hunger drove him to break into an office at the Washington Street bus terminal.

Michael Paul Wade, 41, of Bridle Hill, Smith's, told Police, who found him last Sunday with an 8ft metal pipe, he was searching for food.

Wade yesterday admitted in Magistrates' Court breaking and entering, with intent to steal. Sgt. Rex Osborne, prosecuting, said Police were alerted by a security guard who had heard a noise.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis remanded Wade in custody until October 20 for psychiatric and social inquiry reports to be prepared.

ONE TOO MANY CTS One too many Fifty-five-year-old Brendan Bancroft was given 12 months conditional discharge yesterday after pleading guilty in Magistrates' Court to wandering abroad and being drunk and incapable.

Bancroft was found by Police on Monday, slumped across the sidewalk in Reid Street, said Sgt. Rex Osborne, prosecuting.

"The public had to walk over him. Nearby was a bottle of sherry, two-thirds of it empty,'' added Sgt. Osborne.

MIZZENTOP BLAZE FIR Missentop blaze A fire in a Mizzentop apartment in Warwick was started after heat from a lamp ignited a piece of cloth. Flames were confined to the kitchen, but there was smoke damage to the living room and bedroom.

The blaze was out when firefighters arrived at the scene at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday. A fire service spokesman said the occupier had put out the flames.

BURGLAR FOILED CRM Burglar foiled A burglar broke into a woman's home in Tee Street, Devonshire, on Tuesday night but left empty-handed. The woman found her purse lying on the floor, but nothing had been taken.

Meanwhile, a visitor had a rude awakening when she found a man crouching in her room at a Somerset guest house on Tuesday morning.

The intruder fled when the woman alerted her husband.