Police were hunting for several men who robbed at knifepoint two female accountants of 340,000 yuan (US$42,059) near their office in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.

The workers had withdrawn the money from a bank, a routine during weekdays, said the Wuhan Evening Newspaper yesterday.

On Monday morning, the two women, identified as Wu and Liu, were walking up a stairway on the first floor of a building housing their company when several young men rushed up from behind, the report said. Their firm, the Yangguang Cargo Transport Co Ltd, is located on the second floor, said the newspaper.

All the men reportedly were carrying cleavers about 50 centimeters long.

One of the thugs blocked their way and grabbed Liu's handbag, which contained the funds.

Then the robbers ran into a waiting minivan.

The minivan pulled into the courtyard and left in about three minutes, according to the newspaper, citing an owner of a nearby grocery store.

The company driver alerted police. He was parking his vehicle in the courtyard when the robbery occurred. The robbers arrived ahead of the company vehicle.

About 20 minutes later, police discovered the minivan abandoned by the robbers.

(Shanghai Daily November 23, 2005)