Merchants at a popular Mapunapuna market say thieves will strike again. Tenants at 99 Ranch Market reluctantly say that with high-confidence following the latest brazen burglary.
Vendors returned to their kiosks and shops Monday but it certainly was not business as usual.
"We all kind of concerned what going on in here now," said Dan Chan of Bee's Dessert House.
"This is the second time they've driven a truck through the main windows," said Scott Halsted of Aloha Hobbies.
For the second time in four months someone plowed a vehicle through the front doors and stole from several businesses.
"Some of my jewelry, my safe," said Shu.
Louise Shu says the safe was filled with jewelry.
"Victimized again, I think it's terrible what they have done to come back and to repeat a terrible crime like this -- people are so merciless," said customer Nancy Au.
Tenants believe the thieves are familiar with the building and knew security guards leave at 9 P.M. nightly. The suspects even tampered with security cameras before ramming concrete planters and slamming into the building. Once inside they smashed an ATM to pieces and knocked down a pay phone.
"It is a high-crime area especially for merchants," said Halsted. Several months ago his girlfriend was a robbery victim. "When she had come in there were to individuals in here that had ski masks on and they forced her to the ground and they said they had a weapon. They ransacked the place and smashed the register and made off they police did recover a ski mask."
No one was arrested.
"Either getting your car stolen or smash and grab incidents or folks brandishing weapons or extortion," said Halsted. "And to compound it all business is pretty slow right now."
The owner of the building says a tenant failed to turn on the 24-hour security alarm system. He says he'll upgrade the system but adds hiring security 24 hours a day comes with costs that will be passed along to tenants.
"I'm concerned you know in the future, what's going to happen next," said Chan.
It will cost management $50,000 to replace the electronic doors. Police continue to investigate.