Bandits tried to rob two-off duty police officers of their car and valuables early on Sunday.
However, the officers, who have firearms user’s licenses got into a shoot-out with the men.
According to reports, PCs Cato, of the North Eastern Division Gang Intelligence Unit, and Hyde of the Morvant CID were both in Cato’s Nissan Navarra on Private Road, Mt Hope, at 1 am on Sunday with two women in the back seat, when they were approached by two men, one holding a gun.
The two men announced a robbery and demanded that Cato, Hyde and the other occupants get out of the van.
Fearing for their lives, both officers drew their licensed firearms and shot at the bandits. A shoot-out ensued with the two officers and the bandits exchanging gunfire as a beige Nissan X-Trail pulled in front of the bandits for them to get in.
The bandits got into the car and speed off.
Investigators recovered 29 spent 9mm shells at the scene. A black Toyota Aqua was damaged in the shoot-out.