Port Elizabeth police are searching for a total of nine armed suspects following two unrelated robberies on Monday.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, said it is alleged that in one incident, two security guards were at a fast food outlet in Commercial Road, Sidwell at around 11 am when they were confronted by two of the men.
Naidu said one of the guards was assaulted and forced to lie on the floor, and his firearm was taken.
She said the suspects grabbed a money bag and ran out, while the other security official was forced, from the outside, by three armed men into the customer area of the shop, where he was instructed to lie on the floor.
He was also robbed of his firearm.
All five suspects then fled the scene in a white vehicle.
Meanwhile, in another incident, it is alleged that four armed men accosted a G4D security official from behind while he was walking down the passage in Clearly Park shopping centre.
"The men grabbed his firearm and a money box and ran out of the centre," Naidu said.
Naidu said the suspects fled the scene in a bakkie which was later found abandoned in West End.
"It was further established that the vehicle was reported stolen in Ikamvilihle last month. No arrests and no injuries were sustained during the robbery," she said.
