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Masked Men Violently Rob Margate AutoZone

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MARGATE (CBSMiami) --  AutoZone employees in Margate were back at work Friday morning after a violent armed robbery.

Jose Louis was injured during the hold-up and said he thought he wouldn't make it home to his family.

"We all got a family to get home to. We were just about to leave work at that's what happens," said Louis.

Click here to watch Gaby Fleischman's report. 

Margate Police said two masked men barged into the store located at 6650 W. Atlantic Blvd just before 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.

No customers were inside and employees were wrapping up for the night.

"They just came in. The guys told us to open the register. I cut my hand when he pushed me out the way to take the all money," said Louis.

Several employees were held at gunpoint, duct taped and tied up while the manager was forced to open the store's safe.

That's when employees say customers walked in, realized what was going on, and ran to a custard shop next door to call for help.  They believe that is what saves their lives.

Police said the robbers ran to a nearby residential neighborhood right behind the store and hid.

Authorities then set up a search with dogs and within minutes took one of the suspects into custody.

"They were apparently on the lose and there were dogs coming around and everything so I didn't want to come outside," said Barbara  Bellani who saw the search going on.

The second suspect was found a few hours later.

Federal authorities are investigating whether they are also involved in a string of robberies in the area.

Earlier this week surveillance cameras captured two masked men robbing an AutoZone in Plantation.

Employees there were also tied up and held at gunpoint.

Similar incidents happened at a Family Dollar in Hollywood and Pembroke park  and at least five other stores across South Florida.

Anyone with information is urged to call Broward County Crimestoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

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