Police had launched a massive investigation into two daring robberies where four masked men threatened company employees and fled with cash and jewellery worth $55,000.
According to an article in The Fiji Times on February 29, 1984, it was reported that police had said strong evidence suggested that the robbers first attacked the Laucala Beach Service Station at about 2.45am the day before and threatened the station attendant with a cane knife before fleeing with $15,000.
Police said the robbers, clad in balaclavas and armed with cane knives and a bag full of stones, then stormed the Raniga Jewellers Ltd shop on Cunningham St, Suva after it opened for business the day before.
They threatened the staff members with cane knives before stealing assorted jewellry worth $40,000. Police said two of them quickly cleared the showcase stacked with expensive jewellery while a third man stood guard.
They fled with the loot in a stolen white Toyota private car.
Registration was CW420. The car, stolen from Thomson St on a Sunday evening was later found abandoned at Sawani St, Samabula.
Police spokesman then Sergeant Ambika Sharma said a massive round-the- clock investigation had been launched in the Southern Division in a bid to track down the criminals.
Arvind Raniga, the then director of Raniga Jewellers Ltd expressed concern at the safety of businessmen and called for more police action.
“It happened so fast. They told us ‘stay where you are and don’t move’ and that was it.
“We managed to alert Armourguard Security through our alarm, but by the time help came the robbers had already cleaned up the showcase and fled,” a distraught Mr Raniga said.
The Suva Retailers Association had hit out at the lack of police patrols in central Suva.
The then association president Himmat Lodhia said the time was ripe for businessmen to be better protected. Mr Lodhia said a police booth was urgently needed near the Nabukalou Creek to help curb violent crime.
Sergeant Sharma said police was following several leads and hoped to make arrests soon.
