Daring Suva Market Car Smash and Grabs
It was a daring alleged break-in that happened yesterday in one of the busiest parts of Suva and it happened in broad daylight.
Two vehicles belonging to market vendors parked at the Suva Municipal Market Carpark facing the Metropole Building had their windows smashed and broken between 1pm and 2pm. Items including money, a phone and documents were taken. According to people at the market, the alleged burglary happened during the time a booth was being put up near the Metropole end.
The sound of the generator and the grinder drowned the noise from the smashed windows.
Anaisi Naqera, 37, lost a few thousand dollars and legal documents. “I have lost money and important documents. What were the Council staff doing? There is the Market Police Post, why aren’t the officers patrolling,” Ms Naqera said.
“That side of the car park has a lot of things happening. Drug deals, pick pocketing and other illegal happenings. We honest hard working people need to be protected and made to feel safe in our place of employment.”
Meresiana Koila, 40, is a flower vendor. Her Nissan Tiida was parked 20 metres away just opposite her stall.
She said she did not know what had happened until her husband told her.
She lost important documents kept inside a laptop bag plus a phone.
Robbery
Suva City Council workers and vendors also confirmed a robbery incident last month.
They said an Asian national was ganged up on by four or five youths, one even had a knife which was used to rip through the man’s bag and pants.
They said it happened near the carpark at the Metropole end. One Council employee who saw the incident said he did not help the man because he saw a knife being used.
Council response
Suva and Lami special administrator chair Isikeli Tikoduadua said the Council was working closely with the Fiji Police Force to eliminate criminal elements.
The Suva Municipal Market and the Suva Bus Stand has 54 CCTV cameras. On a daily average, the Bus Stand accommodates 2800 bus trips and an estimated foot traffic of more than 15,000 people.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said: “We are working towards identifying and locating the individual seen in the footage alleged to have committed the offence.”