Police are looking for four men who robbed a family at Tacirua Heights outside Suva on Friday evening, in an attack which left a 57-year-old man in hopsital.
The family had been the target of a number of home invasions.
The three family members were packing vegetables for sale the next day when they were surprised by the men at about 7pm.
Secondary school student, Kitty Chan, 16, recalled hearing a scuffle outside her home and moments later four men rushed into the premises.
"Before they tied me and my mother up, they got her to give them all the cash that was inside," said the student.
According to Chan, thugs had tried previously to break into their home during the day but were foiled by their quick actions in alerting authorities and securely bolting their premises.
However, the latest attack has convinced the family how vulnerable they are to criminals in the area, as the main road, and nearest neighbours are located a good distance away from their farm house.
"We have lived here for almost twenty years but we feel afraid now, especially when people just walk around anyhow and our crops keep going missing. We report it but no-one is caught because they come at different times and you can't see them," said Chan.
She said her father, Chan Moon Fai, had been picking beans outside when he was alerted by their barking dog and when nearing the home, was attacked by the intruders. He is recovering with bruising and swelling at the Colonial War memorial Hospital.
