Kelera Tinasala, a cashier at Alison Supermarket in Laucala Beach, Suva, experienced a terrifying incident yesterday morning when two armed thieves threatened her and several shoppers with cane knives in broad daylight.
Ms. Tinasala reported to work as usual, completely unprepared for the shocking events that would unfold. At around 10 a.m., two masked men entered the store, brandishing their weapons and demanding the handbags of two women who were waiting in line at the butcher section.
“I’ve seen robberies like this in movies, but I never expected to witness one firsthand,” Ms. Tinasala recounted. The two women, who later disclosed that they carried $23,000 in cash between them, were approached in an instant as the robbers struck. After seizing the handbags, they forced Ms. Tinasala to open the cash register, from which they also took additional money.
Working at the supermarket for two years, Ms. Tinasala remarked that the robbers were part of a three-man team. While two of them entered the store, a third individual was seen waiting outside in a taxi. Alarmingly, she watched as the robbers forced the taxi driver into the trunk of the vehicle before making their escape.
The incident proved to be deeply upsetting for everyone present. “It was a life-threatening situation; I memorized the taxi number plate and gave it to the police,” Ms. Tinasala stated. Authorities later informed her that the abandoned taxi was discovered in Tacirua Heights, with the driver still inside the trunk.
In a notable development following the incident, police arrested three men who are believed to have been involved in the aggravated robbery. While they have not yet confirmed the total amount of money stolen, the investigation is still active, providing some hope for a resolution to this frightening event.
This incident underscores both the bravery of witnesses like Ms. Tinasala, who acted quickly in a stressful situation, and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to keep communities safe. As investigations continue, there remains hope that justice will be served and that such incidents will be prevented in the future.
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