The Tribune

THE security team at Sandyport want to make it clear that there have been no reported rapes within the gated community, following claims of a serial rapist targeting victims in the east and the west.

Sarah Barton, in charge of security at Sandyport, said ever since the news broke on Tuesday worried residents have been calling the security centre.

"We're getting calls from residences left, right and centre," Ms Barton said, explaining that Sandyport is generally known as a safe area.

"You don't have any rapes here and hardly any incidents - maybe one or two a year. We're never had any rapes in Sandyport, ever."

Her comments follow the police's launch of an island-wide hunt for two men suspected of raping almost a dozen women in their homes - including a former parliamentarian and the niece of a prominent politician.

The two suspects are thought to have been terrorising women in the east and west - including near, but not within Sandyport - for the past three weeks.

The men, wearing scarfs tied around their faces, would break into the homes of women between 2am and 6am and rape them at gun point.

In some instances, the men would rob the residents of cash and electronics.

One of the men is described as having a Jamaican accent being just under six-foot tall with a medium build and the other is Bahamian of average height and slim build.

The incidents were said to have occurred in Yamacraw, Elizabeth Estates and Winton areas in the east and Coral Harbour, Cable Beach and near Sandyport in the west.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said police have stepped up patrols after an increase in armed robberies in the eastern and western areas.