Police are investigating a robbery in Tuen Mun this morning in which two culprits snatched about $690,000 from two cash-escort guards. One shot was fired during the robbery, but no one was injured.

At about 11.40am, two security guards, aged 23 and 45, had just collected a cash box from a nearby bank when two men stopped them at the rear lane between Luk Yuen Street and Yan Ching Street.

The two robbers, armed with a pistol-like object and an axe, ordered the guards to hand over the cash box.

The younger guard surrendered the cash box and escaped. He met a patrolling Police officer and the two returned to the rear lane where one of the thieves fired a shot.

The robbers fled with a shotgun snatched from the older guard who had been hit on the back of his head with hard object. He was later treated in hospital.

Witnesses asked to come forward

Police later found a bullet near the scene, an empty cash box at the scene and a shot gun at the rear lane of Ho Pong Street.

About $690,000 in the cash box was stolen. The thieves had not fired the shotgun.

New Territories North's Regional Crime Unit is investigating.

Witnesses or people with information to offer can contact the officers at 2666 4431.