SINGAPORE - Two men were charged with armed robbery on Friday over a masked raid on a convenience store.

More than $3,600 worth of items - including 20 cartons of cigarettes, $1,100 in cash and a $500 mobile phone - were allegedly stolen by two men wearing balaclavas from Buzz store in Serangoon Road at 3am on Thursday.

Leon Chia Tee Song and Aaron Tan De Xun, both 22, will be remanded at Central Police Division to assist with investigations until the case is mentioned again next Friday.

According to their charge sheets, both men allegedly pointed a flick knife at a 24-year-old woman during the robbery. It is not known if more than one knife was used.

Police said a store employee reported the robbery at about 3.30am. Officers spotted two suspects, who fled upon seeing the police.

One was arrested after a chase.

Eleven hours later, the other suspect was arrested at Block 520, Woodlands Drive 14, after investigations. Police said they recovered cash, cigarette cartons, gloves, a balaclava and "an assortment of weapons".

If convicted of committing armed robbery at night, Chia and Tan both face between three and 14 years in jail, with at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Amir Hussain