Nakasi is one of the busiest areas outside of Suva and with the increase in traffic, there has been an increase in thefts and break-ins, claim market vendors.

Market vendors just outside of Tebara Plaza in Nakasi said the area had become a hotspot for crimes such as thefts and break-ins of vehicles.

Deepak Narayan, who has been operating a stall there, said it was the work of unemployed men who hung around the area.

“On a busy day, bags are snatched. Just last week, a lady market vendor had hung her bag in her stall. The back of the stall was fenced so there was no way of getting the bag from there,” he said.

“The lady had thought her bag was safe, but the culprits cut the tarpaulin roof and took the bag containing $500.”

Another vendor, Shalvin Sami said his wallet was taken from his back pocket while he was serving a customer.

“I had put my wallet in my pocket after serving one customer. I was with another customer and when I reached for my wallet to give change, the wallet was gone,” Mr Sami said.

Other vendors said they had seen incidents when cars were broken into.

Mr Sami said they had been threatened by some of these boys.

The vendors have raised the issue with the Police.

Police spokesperson Savaira Tabua said they would be having more Police presence in the area.

Edited by Percy Kean

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