Guard injured in armed robbery bid at Lanarkshire shop
A security guard is recovering in hospital after a struggle with armed raiders at a convenience store in Lanarkshire.
Three masked men threatened two guards with a knife at the Spar in Mansfield Road, Bellshill, at about 0715 BST.
They attempted to grab their cash box but the guards fought back and one was struck on the head with the weapon.
Police described the attack as "particularly violent".
The men, who work for G4 Security, were approached by the suspects as they guards carried out cash-in-transit duties.
Police said they believed the raiders fled empty-handed in an Audi A4.
Both security guards were taken to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.
The 51-year-old guard who was struck over the head is in a stable condition, and the other man, aged 52, was uninjured. He is recovering at home.
Det Con Mark Cummings, from Bellshill CID, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the security guards to suffer, and a particularly violent attack on both men.
"The injured man has a nasty head injury, and is naturally in a lot of pain and indeed shock at what has happened. Thankfully he wasn't more seriously injured."
He added: "From inquiries made so far, it is believed that the suspects made their escape in a dark, possibly black, Audi A4.
"They were seen to exit and enter this car before and after the robbery. However, it isn't known in which direction they drove off afterwards.
"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this vehicle in or around the area of the Spar in Mansfield Road between 0630 and 0715 hours this morning to contact us."
All three suspects were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas. They were thought to be between the ages of 20 and 25.