A businessman claims his shops have been a target of 11 burglaries in the past four months and is concerned at the high rate of such crimes.

Dhruv Patel, the proprietor for Nayan’s Shopping Centre said his shops in Nadera, Khalsa Road and Pilling Road have been subjected to constant burglaries.

“I have lost close to $50,000 in these attacks. The items stolen vary from cigarettes, alcohol, food items, electronics, Even a VAT Monitoring System machine was taken,” Mr Patel claimed.

“It is not only the supermarket. I live around Nailuva Road and there have been a burglaries in neighbouring houses too,” he said.

“The neighbourhood does not feel safe. I am writing a letter to the Commissioner of Police and asking for his assistance.”

Mr Patel said despite having a watchman, burglaries continued to happen.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said Police had received reports and were looking into the matter.

In a separate locality, at Velau Drive, Kinoya, a resident claimed that her area was subjected to constant robberies of taxi drivers, individuals who used the roads and harassment at the hands of drunkards.

Salanieta Tabua said she moved into the area a year ago after her home was destroyed in a fire.

“To get to my home, we have to use a footpath at the end of the road. This footpath runs next to a cassava patch,” she said.

“We have witnessed taxi drivers getting robbed and people getting harassed.”

Ms Naisoro said Police should be responding in a timely manner.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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