Some €2,000 in cash was stolen from a gaming outlet in Paola last night by an armed thief wearing a mask depicting an old man.
The hold-up took place at about 7pm at Best Play in Tarxien Road.
Police said the thief walked in and demanded money from the 22-year-old female cashier from Marsa. At the time there were customers inside the shop.
The thief, wearing dark clothes and carrying a dark-coloured firearm – probably a revolver – made his escape in a silver car whose number plates are believed to have been previously stolen from a Ford Fiesta belonging to a company. No one was injured.