An early morning house burglary incident left a family in a state of shock.

This was the first time they encountered such an incident.

The family’s double-storey house, located at main street Nasekula Road, in Labasa Town, was broken into during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Family member, Sheenal Maharaj, said despite their house being well secured, thieves entered the property through the window, by cutting the gauze wire and removing the louvre blades.

Ms Maharaj said the thieves first made entry through the downstairs flat front window after which they entered via the kitchen window of the top floor.

The house was broken into between 1am to 1.45am upon which the family immediately lodged a report with the Police at 2am.

Ms Maharaj said their entire family were traumatised by the experience.

“Our children are mentally disturbed and afraid, especially during the night now, so we as parents have opted to sleep in one room now for safety purposes,” she said.

“None of us are able to sleep peacefully after what unfolded; it is very hard to calm and explain things to children, who were still frightened and disturbed”.

She said the thieves made away with five mobile phones and gold jewellery estimated at around $4000.

Ms Maharaj said her mother-in-law living downstairs in the same property was the first to spot the thieves inside the house.

“Since it was dark, she saw them and asked who they were, after which the thieve slammed my bedroom door and run away with the stolen items,” she emotionally recalled.

Her mother-in-law then informed her husband’s younger brother, after which all families were informed.

“When we went downstairs to check, my husband returned upstairs to get his phone, but realised that his phone and his son’s mobile were stolen”

The 31-year-old urgently requested increased Police patrols within their area.

Ms Maharaj claimed that another house in Naodamu was also broken into on two consecutive days, Tuesday and Friday last week.

Police report

Police spokesperson, Wame Bautolu, confirmed the report at Labasa Police Station.

Mr Bautolu said an investigation into the incident continued.

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