A 51-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while at a hardware store in Gasparillo on Friday afternoon.

Police said around 2 pm, the victim was at Kiswah Hardware and Bar along Caratal Road, Gasparillo, when he was approached by two masked bandits. One of them pointed a gun at him.

He was robbed of a Samsung A6 cell phone, a social welfare cheque and $2000. They then ransacked the victim’s vehicle before leaving in a silver Nissan Wingroad.

Gasparillo police are investigating.

Meanwhile, police are searching for two men who chased, beat and robbed a 53-year-old proprietor of $30,000 in Siparia.

Police said around 8.40 am on Friday, the victim parked his Nissan Tiida Hatchback on the compound of the NP Quik Shoppe at Lower High Street, and began walking towards Republic Bank Limited.

While he was attempting to cross the SS Erin Road, two assailants began to pursue him.

The victim ran in the direction of the Fyzabad Taxi Stand, but one of the assailants caught up to him and struck him twice on his face.

The other suspect dipped into his pants pockets and robbed him of $30,000 and his vehicle keys, and then drove off.

However, the vehicle crashed into a metal railing opposite the Quik Shoppe, forcing the bandits to flee on foot.

Officers from the Siparia Police Station are investigating. – Sascha Wilson