Peel police are hunting four suspects armed with guns and at least one sledgehammer after the group tried to rob a Mississauga jewelry store, only to be thwarted by sword-wielding store owners and employees.

The attempted heist occurred at Ashok Jewellers on Airport Road near Derry Road West around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

The four men attempted to gain entry to the store by breaking a window at which point the employees were able to fend off the quartet, who then fled the area northbound on Airport Road in a dark coloured Dodge Durango.

“It’s crazy,” said Thomas Makasa, who lives in the area and viewed the video. “I hope the cops catch them.”

The robbers are described as all men, between five-foot-eight and five-foot-11. Two were wearing blue jumpsuits with reflective safety decals, black toques, black shoes, black hoodies and a black backpack.

One of the men was armed with a handgun.

This is the second time in four months a violent and armed jewelry store heist in Malton was captured on video and made public. This past July, a similar incident occurred at nearby Rana Jewellers as gunmen burst into the store using a minivan and took some property before being confronted by store owners.

Anyone with information can call police at 905-453-2121 , ext. 3410.