It was a daring daylight robbery, right in the heart of Suva yesterday morning.

Three men wearing masks, armed with pinch bars and concrete blocks, stormed into a shop/restaurant in Victoria Parade yesterday morning and robbed the Xia Men Yingli Company Limited restaurant just opposite the Suva City Library. The shop/ restaurant had just opened its doors.

The iconic Suva restaurant has been around for years and traded as East Court Kitchen for many years until new owners took over.

Restaurant staff member, Nanise Radinikanace said it was a scary experience.

Xia Men Yingli restaurant staff member, Nanise
Radinikanace recounts the robbery that occured at the
restaurant at Victoria Parade, Suva on December 7, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar

“It happened around 8.45am. The boss was in the front and we, the staff, were in the kitchen. Three men came in. They had pinch bars and concrete blocks,” she said.

“They were shouting and yelling. When we started to come to the front counter, they waved the pinch bar at us and told us to stay where we were.

“They broke all the dishes we had on the food warmer. My boss, she was scared. It happened very fast. They had come in a taxi numbered LT 74 and they left in that after taking the money.

“We called the Police soon after, but they arrived at 12pm.”

It has been established that the robbers allegedly took a phone belonging to the owner, $200 in cash and recharge cards valued over $1000.

Ms Radinikanace said the surveillance cameras in the store captured the incident and the footage had been taken by the Police.

She said they were lucky that no one was hurt.

The Victoria Parade strip had become notorious for muggings and robberies at night. Police beefed up its presence at night along the area.

By the time this edition went to press, no comments had been received from the Police.

Xia Men Yingli restaurant.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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