Two masked men yesterday robbed a 21-year-old supermarket employee in High Street, Sliema at about 10.30am while she was transporting Lm10,000 in takings in a shopping trolley.

The Tower Supermarket employee from San Gwann was on her way to deposit the money in a bank close by when two hooded and armed men stopped a small white van, got out and demanded she hand over the money.

According to an eyewitness, the woman screamed and ran back into the Tower Supermarket, leaving the trolley and money outside.

It is understood that the two men had tied handkerchiefs over the lower half of their faces in an effort to disguise themselves. They then took the cash and drove off a few metres down the road.

The men then abandoned the van, walked up a small alley and sped off in another car.

The eyewitness pointed out that it was common practice for Tower Supermarket employees to transport the money in a shopping trolley on a regular basis.

“The bank notes are placed in an envelope and the coins in a plastic bag – everything is put in the trolley and taken to the bank. They have been doing this for years – I’m surprised it didn’t happen before,” an eyewitness told The Malta Independent.

According to police sources, the white van was seen circulating in the High Street area for at least an hour before the robbery took place. The same sources said that a total of about Lm10,000 was stolen.

No one was injured in the incident and the woman was taken to St Luke’s Hospital to be treated for shock.

Duty magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was informed of the incident and set up an inquiry and appointed various experts to assist. Meanwhile, the police have lifted video tapes from CCTV cameras in the vicinity in an effort to identify the robbers. The Criminal Investigation Department is following the case.