Police searching for St Augustine gas station bandits

POLICE are searching for two armed men who robbed a St Augustine gas station on August 7.

The men reportedly entered the store and at least one aimed their gun in the direction of the cashier, demanding he hand over money.

Police said the frightened cashier handed over about $8,000 from the cash register. The suspects also stole several bottles of alcohol, robbed a security guard of his Samsung 13 phone, and a customer of $400.

Police were called and officers of the North Central Emergency Response Patrol Unit responded.

The suspects were seen exiting the store and reportedly fired several shots in the direction of responding officers, who returned fire.

They got into a silver Nissan Tiida and escaped, driving west. The Tiida was later found to have fake licence plates.

Officers chased them until they reached Railway Road, Tunapuna, near the Tunapuna Market. Police said they jumped out of the car and ran in a southern direction, disappearing into the crowd.

North Central Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene and found cigarettes and a Black Berretta pistol, with one magazine and 17 rounds of live nine-millimetre ammunition.

Police searched the car and found $2,903. The vehicle was later impounded and taken to the station for processing.