hooded robbers brandishing a three-foot machete said yesterday: "It was like something out of TV.'' The 61-year-old, who underwent heart tests following the assault, was closing his Devonshire store when the brutes pounced from the dark.

It was one of the rare times Mr. Pearman's brother failed to help him shut up Belvin's Grocery store.

One of the robbers screamed out repeated death threats, and demanded cash.

He then systematically bludgeoned a terrified Mr. Pearman about both arms with the blunt edge of the machete.

Once the thugs had snatched around $2,000 in cash and cheques from the till, they rounded on their victim again.

This time they pushed him about and struck him with a stick, ordering him to open the safe.

But Mr. Pearman suddenly glimpsed an opportunity to escape, and fled the store.

He ran to his neighbours, while the robbers disappeared into the night.

Mr. Pearman was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment for his injuries.

He was also given a check-up following his recent heart attack.

The robbery at the store off Middle Road occurred at around 10.15 p.m. on Wednesday.

It brought an immediate Police appeal for help in tracking down the crooks.

Detectives say the robbers fled along Vesey Street towards the Loyal Hill area between 10.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.

Yesterday Mr. Pearman, who has run the store for 32 years, was back at work, sporting severe bruises and grazing on his arms and right shoulder, and feeling a "bit sore''.

He recalled how the robbers, masked by unslitted black hoods, burst in through the back door.

"Usually one of my brothers helps me lock up, but this time he didn't help me,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

"I heard someone knock, and suddenly the larger of the men came running straight towards me with a big machete.

"He was shouting `I will kill you, I will kill you. I want money.' He began hitting me with the blunt edge of the two-foot blade.

"My arms began swelling out in bulges like eggs. He just continued striking me.

"I told him I couldn't get the keys for the till if he kept on beating me.'' Mr. Pearman said the men rifled the cash register, but grabbed mainly cheques.

"The smaller of the two men then came towards me and pushed me aside. He said he wanted me to open the safe and began hitting me.

"I told him I couldn't open the safe, but he continued beating me with a stick.'' Mr. Pearman said he spotted his chance, and ran out the back door, on to a verandah, and into his neighbour's home.

"I told them I had been beaten and robbed, and they called the Police, who took me to hospital.'' Mr. Pearman said he believed the two men may have been lying in wait for the right moment to strike.

"It's possible they had been casing the place for some time. The alarm went off last Monday and Wednesday.'' He added: "I was completely terrified by the incident. Nothing like this has ever happened before.

"The only thing near it was a smash and grab once.'' Mr. Pearman, who lives in Jubilee Road, Devonshire, said he would have to look into stepping up security measures at his store.

"I will speak to my brother to see what can be done,'' he added.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Andrea Browne yesterday appealed for public help in catching the robbers.

Anyone who can help should call Det. Sgt. Andrew Boyce of the CID on 295-0011.

BACK TO WORK -- Mr. William Pearman yesterday.