Nairobi — Armed gangsters on Thursday afternoon robbed a mobile shop within Mombasa Central Business District and walked away with cash and goods worth more than Sh400,000.

The five gangsters, who were armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols, entered the shop near a roundabout along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue and ordered all the workers to lie down before collecting mobile phones on display and cash money.

According to one of the workers Said Abdulla, the gangsters entered the shop at about 3.30 p.m. and closed all the doors before committing the crime. Mr Abdulla said the group posed as customers while entering the main door before drawing their weapons.

"We were ordered to open the safe where there was more than Sh100,000. They took the money and the most expensive phones before they escaped," said Mr Abdulla.

Mr Elisha Saduma, a mobile phone repair sustained a minor injury after he was hit with a butt of the firearm when he delayed obeying the order.

"They entered and closed main door and one of them ordered me to show them where the safe was as the rest continued to ransack our shop," he said.

Mr Saduma said the incident took less than five minutes before the group escaped using a matatu which we suspect they hijacked.Coast provincial criminal investigation boss Reche Nyaga said the gangsters used a matatu they had hijacked .

"We know the number plate of the vehicle and are looking for it and the operators who will help us in the investigation," said Mr Reche.