A 72-year-old man was hospitalised on Thursday after he was hit by a hard object during a scuffle with a thief.

His condition is not yet known.

The police said the incident happened at around 6.45am in Triq ix-Xatt, Msida.

The thief, who was carrying a knife, approached the victim as he was opening a tobacco store, and demanded he hands over the cash register. The victim, a resident of Naxxar, resisted and in the scuffle was hit on the head by a hard object.

He was assisted by a medical team on site before being transferred to hospital.

The thief escaped and a search is under way.

An inquiry is being held.

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