BERMUDA was highlighted in a top-selling US newspaper this week, not for its beaches and balmy weather, but for its increasing crime rate.

The negative comments appeared in Sunday's edition of , courtesy of a columnist whose bags were stolen on a recent trip to the island.

Earlier this year, the Bermuda Department of Tourism announced it had reorganised its North American operations to better concentrate on a number of gateway cities including Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC ? two areas where is heavily circulated.

Messages left for Tourism Minister Ren?e Webb as to whether the article represented a setback for the Department were not returned yesterday.columnist admitted to having been warned about crime on the island by a taxi driver, but confessed to believing "it was all pink sand and rum swizzles" until "two backpacks were stolen from our rental apartment ? while we were in it, sleeping, having inadvertently left the door unlocked".

Although he quotes spokespersons from the Department of Tourism and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation defending Bermuda's "historically low crime rate", the columnist said that everyone "we talked to after the theft concurred that crime was an issue . . ."

He then draws reference to a May 22 article in in which Assistant Police Commissioner Carlton Adams is reported to have said that while crime is on the decline, residents perceive it to be on the increase.

Fortunately, the columnist neglects to report the officer's comments in full ? that crime is perceived to be on the increase because of the violent clash between 40 armed men in broad daylight at Wellington Oval this April ? but he does stop short of recommending the island as a holiday destination.

His parting advice to potential visitors, "Take it from CoGo: Lock your door," before listing the US State Department's web site as a source for travel information.

The site describes Bermuda as having a "moderate but growing crime rate".

The warning raised the ire of local politicians when first brought to attention earlier this year, but the US Consulate has refused to change it without a significant drop in crime.

The Department of Tourism's reorganisation of its North American operations is set to benefit from a weekly USA3000 flight.

"This will increase the visibility of Bermuda and help drive conversion to Bermuda from these key gateway markets," said Finance Minster Paula Cox in announcing the department's 2004 budget.

"All communications will be focused into Bermuda's gateway markets, therefore increasing exposure significantly in the regions that are serviced by direct air lift. Marketing dollars will be allocated within each region based on the total population, air capacity and historical arrival data."