Masked raiders seized about $1750 worth of watches in a duty-free smash and grab in central Suva at a weekend in 1979 before threatening police with a cane knife and stick while making their getaway.
The story was reported in The Fiji Times on Monday, January 8, 1979.
Toughened glass at Prouds duty-free shop at the Suva Triangle foiled an attempt by the raiders to get at valuables there. So they broke into Duty Free Wholesalers Ltd in Cumming Street and grabbed the watches.
The thieves escaped in a stolen red Datsun 120Y which was later found abandoned on Queens Road near Naboro, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, acting Senior Superintendent Ambika Prasad said.
Police investigating the case worked hard to speak to anyone who saw the men at the time of raids in the early hours of Saturday morning, January 6. A passer-by spotted the first break-in attempt at Prouds.
He saw a man, his face shielded by a cloth, standing near Prouds’ battered main window.
The raider brandished a stick at the passer-by, then jumped into the red Datsun and made off.
The passer-by reported the incident to the police. About 15 minutes later, two patrolling police officers heard the sound of breaking glass in Cumming Street and went to investigate.
They saw men, their faces also covered with cloth, emerging from the broken glass door of Duty Free Wholesalers with cartons and parcels in their hands.
When the intruders saw the officers they waved a cane knife and stick at them, then got into the car and drove off.
By the time the police had reported back to headquarters, the getaway car had disappeared.
SSP Prasad said the car had been stolen while parked at the Tradewinds Hotel earlier on Saturday night.
Police dusted it for fingerprints after it was found at Naboro
The car was later returned to the owner. Mr Ramesh Parshotam, one of the owners of Free Wholesalers, told The Fiji Times a rock was used to smash the top of a show glass containing the watches.
“Pieces of broken glass were scattered everywhere,” he said.
