BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Two bold thieves robbed the Office Depot in West Melbourne (see map) just as three employees were about to open up early Tuesday morning. One of the workers was pistol-whipped. The Brevard County SWAT team ended up surrounding the store, because they thought the crooks were still hiding inside.

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SLIDESHOWS: SWAT Storms Office Depot | Aerial Images Of Scene
RAW VIDEOS: Store Raided By SWAT | Aerial View
VIDEO REPORT: Suspects No Where To Be Found When SWAT Raids Store

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Police spent all morning inside the Office Depot looking for any evidence the thieves may have left behind, maybe something in the aisle or the manager's office where they forced the employees to wait while they looked for cash.

The Brevard County SWAT team and West Melbourne police surrounded the entire area around Office Depot on West 192 just before 7:00am. By 9:00am, the SWAT team on the ground made their way inside the front door. Minutes later, they brought all three employees out.

One of the employees was rushed to Holmes Regional Hospital. Paramedics put a bandage over his forehead where the thieves pistol-whipped him so hard his face was cut open. He's expected to be okay.

West Melbourne police said two men forced their way inside the store just as three employees were about to open up for the day. One of them threatened employees with a pistol, while the other one had a knife.

The thieves made all of the workers go inside the manager's office, while they rushed through the store looking for cash. That's also when one of the employees managed to call police. The employees didn't know the thieves had already left the store, because they stayed inside the office.

"The safest route is to set up a perimeter, call SWAT and get the employees," explained Commander Steven Wilkinson, Melbourne Police Department.

Frantic loved ones and friends rushed to the scene.

Investigators are trying to figure out if the robbery is connected to a failed robbery Tuesday morning at the CVS in Indialantic just a few miles away. A police officer caught three thieves just as they were about to walk in. They later crashed as they tried to get away and took off on foot.

West Melbourne police are checking to see if there's any usable surveillance video. They want to get a picture of the suspects out so that maybe the public can help find them.

The suspects are described as males, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10. One had a medium build and was wearing a black mask, wool gloves, a white long sleeved/collared shirt, baggy blue jeans and was armed with a pistol. The second suspect had a thin build and was wearing all black, a black mask and wool gloves and armed with a knife. Anyone with any information on the incident is encouraged to contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).

There was no word on when the store will re-open.