Two men stole £300 from a store till after threatening staff with a syringe.
The robbers entered One Stop Convenience Store, in Cluny Square, Southend, shortly after 7am on Saturday.
They loitered for a short time by the alcohol section, before one of the men jumped over the counter and prised open the till.
The other pulled out a syringe which he used to threaten two women members of staff, both 20 years old.
He forced them into the back office while the other man took an unspecified sum of money from the till.
They also stole several phone cards and boxes of cigarettes, plus one of the women's handbags containing her purse.
The thieves ran away towards Norwich Avenue.
They had their faces covered but both were about 5ft 10ins tall. One of them wore a light grey top and white trainers.
It was not clear what - if anything - was in the syringe.
Police appealed for witnesses to contact them on 01702 431212.
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