The police said the shop-owner was opening his shop for business at around 4.15pm when an armed robber approached him and demanded the money he had. The man gave him the cash and the robber fled the scene. The shop-owner was not injured.
Duty magistrate Michael Mallia was informed about the case. He appointed a number of court experts to assist him with the inquiry.
Hamrun district police and the Criminal Investigations Department are investigating the theft.