Three hold-ups within 15 minutes

Two hooded armed men yesterday held up a 43-year-old woman who was about to close a shop in Triq Geronimo Abos in Iklin at about 7.45 p.m. the police said.

They made off with the cash register and rushed out but one of the men went into another shop in the same street and asked the woman inside for money but the 52-year-old wrestled with him and the robber rushed out empty handed. The two sped off in a car which had a man in the driver's seat who was waiting for them to make their getaway.

Soon after, at about 8 p.m., two armed men held at gun point a 56-year-old man from Qormi and his 72-year-old brother in Triq Guze Pace in Hamrun. The robbers made off with a container that held cash and other items, the police said.

The man tried to restrain one of the robbers but he was overwhelmed and the two aggressors escaped followed by the two victims who, however, failed to keep pace. No one was hurt in these incidents.

Duty magistrate Anthony Vella appointed several experts to assist in an inquiry. The police are investigating.