A vendor has lost out after eight mats worth $3000 were stolen from her Rakiraki Handicraft Market stall a week ago.

Pearl necklaces and other handmade jewellery were also stolen.

Vendor Silvia McGoon said: “My mats were stolen and the other vendors had loose coins stolen from their tables and I’m the only one that sells handicraft and things like salusalu and mats and I have constantly asked the Rakiraki Market management to put a gate over my stall.”

She said a few items were recovered, however her biggest concern was the theft of her mats which were worth more $3000.

“When we came to this new Rakiraki Market we thought it will be safe and secure, but there are no security cameras here and the thieves managed to come in through a small opening as this market does not have any grills,” she said.

“This has caused me so much stress because I normally take my items home every afternoon and this is the first time for me to leave my mats here and when we came the next morning all my things were scattered across my table.”

She said Police had also gathered information from her about the incident.

“Police came, but at this point, I don’t care about the thieves because all I want is for the Rakiraki Town Council chief executive officer to do something so this does not happen again and my money is not wasted,” she said.

Questions sent to the Council Chief Executive Officer, Sailosi Sawana were not yet answered by the time this edition went to press.

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