A hooded man who entered a gaming parlour in St Paul’s Bay yesterday afternoon fled empty-handed after he was resisted by an employee who refused to give him any money.

A struggle ensued and the employee was slightly injured when he was hit with an item, believed to have been a toy pistol.

The incident took place at about 12.25pm in Mosta Road, St Paul’s Bay, when the would-be thief entered the Fairplay gaming parlour wearing a helmet and brandishing what looked like a toy pistol. He demanded money but the employee, a 23-year-old man from San Ġwann, refused. The intruder assaulted the employee, hitting him in the face with the toy pistol and fled the scene in a car.

The police mounted a search for the getaway car, which, according to eyewitnesses, was a Fiat. They analysed closed-circuit television footage of the targeted parlour and neighbouring establishments.

Police Inspectors Saviour Baldacchino and Maurice Curmi are investigating.

Duty Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was informed about the case. She has appointed several court experts to assist her.