A popular Indian restaurant in Suva, Maya Dhaba, was the target of a burglary, leaving its owner, Harminder Singh, grappling with financial and emotional setbacks.
Fiji Times reported that staff arrived at the restaurant, located at 281 Victoria Parade, early yesterday to find the back door open, the office ransacked, cash stolen, and the alcohol cabinet emptied.
Singh, who has been operating Maya Dhaba since 2007, described the incident as a devastating blow following a bustling holiday season.
“I was so happy on Sunday night after hosting a big event, only to wake up to this terrible news.”
The burglars reportedly gained entry through the back door after the restaurant had closed at 10 p.m. on Sunday. An estimated $10,000 to $15,000 in cash was stolen, which included weekly earnings and employee wages due to be paid yesterday.
Singh said that this theft underscores the challenges of doing business amid rising crime in Suva.
“This will impact operations as I now need to figure out how to pay my staff.”
Singh has called for increased police presence in the area and urged the public to practise civic pride and responsibility.
“We are Australian-based but have made Fiji our home. Incidents like this make it difficult to sustain business here.”
The robbery also included the theft of a CCTV camera decoder and liquor valued at $2,500. Singh told fijivillage that he suspects the burglarshad prior knowledge of the restaurant’s layout.
Maya Dhaba has been a labour of love for Singh, who initially visited Fiji in 2006 for a holiday with his family. He decided to stay and open the Suva outlet of his brother’s successful Sydney restaurant.
Maya Dhaba has built a reputation for its authentic North Indian cuisine, attracting a loyal customer base that includes expatriates and embassy staff.
Police confirmed that an investigation has been launched after the incident was reported to the Totogo station.
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