Emalus Apartment shop faces over eight incidents

March 13, 2025 9:51 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

Mr. Burger House Restaurant and Takeaway at the Emalus Apartment opposite the University of South Pacific (USP) has dealt with more than eight incidents of theft and unruly behavior over the years.

From customers stealing food to refusing to pay their bills, staff have grown accustomed to handling trouble. However, the latest incident was unlike anything they had experienced before.

A security camera captured a man exposing himself to a female shopkeeper while asking for the time. The footage, which surfaced on Facebook on Wednesday this week, quickly went viral, drawing widespread outrage.

One of the Ni-Vanuatu shopkeepers told the Daily Post that the man came in and showed his private part to her boss, which she referred to as Misis.

“He was exposing it while asking for the time. Misis didn’t see his hands and just said ‘8:30.’ But when he asked another question, that’s when she saw it,” she said.

The Chinese shop owner, shocked by the incident, initially thought the man was holding a knife, as some customers have been known to carry concealed weapons. “But no, it was the other ‘knife,’” she remarked.

While the shop has faced frequent disturbances—including a customer stealing a whole chicken from a hot oven and another man claiming his in-laws would pay for his meal—this week’s incident was unprecedented.

Shop staff explained that contacting the police is often ineffective due to delayed response times. “Sometimes we call, but they say their truck has problems or they take too long to arrive, and by then, the boys have already escaped,” the shopkeeper said.

This time, the shopkeeper handled the situation herself. “Misis threw something at him and shouted, and he ran away. She said the police are too slow anyway,” the staff member said.

With repeated incidents at the shop, staff remain vigilant, but they say the latest event reminds them of the challenges they continue to face.