SUNRISE, Fla. – Police are searching for two women they said were shoplifting at a TJ Maxx store over the weekend, one of whom pepper sprayed a loss prevention officer in the face.

The incident was reported Saturday at the TJ Maxx at Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise.

According to an incident report, loss prevention officer Tiffany Harris saw two black women enter the store just before 5 p.m. and put eight pairs of shoes inside their purses.

The shoes were each on sale for $59.99.

Harris told police that she approached the women as they were trying to leave the store, at which point one of the women pulled out a black canister from her purse and pepper sprayed the employee in the face.

Police said the woman who sprayed the employee ran toward the Avenue 3 entrance, while the other woman ran toward the Fashion Row entrance.

The stolen merchandise was not recovered.

The loss prevention officer was taken to Westside Regional Hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information about the identities of the thieves is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.