MASKED GUNMEN INJURE 4 IN HEIST.

Byline: Reed Johnson and Theresa Moreau Daily News Staff Writers

Three gunmen wearing Halloween costumes robbed Fry's Electronics on Friday and beat four employees before escaping with an undetermined number of items.

No shots were fired during the robbery, but the suspects beat the manager and three employees with their guns, said LAPD spokesman Lt. Anthony Alba.

The workers were treated at hospitals for their injuries. ``They were, suffice it to say, quite traumatized physically and mentally,'' Alba said.

The suspects were described as three African-American men, all of whom wore black pants, white shirts and pig noses, police said.

Carrying shotguns and handguns, they forced their way into Fry's superstore at 6100 Canoga Ave. at 6:40 a.m., Alba said. It was not clear what property had been taken.

The suspects drove a short distance to the 6200 block of Owensmouth Avenue, where they abandoned the getaway van inside a gated residential complex and fled in a blue sedan, Alba said.

Alba said police were reviewing store security tapes.

Store employees arriving later for work, some in Halloween costumes, were kept outside while police combed the interior.

``You don't think this can happen in Woodland Hills,'' said Laurence Kolb, who lives across from the store and had walked over to investigate. ``I guess you're always surprised at the guts someone has, guts or stupidity.''

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Photo, Map

Photo: LAPD Detective Mike Snowden, left, and Officer Jason Beatty examine a gun left behind by robbers Friday in Woodland Hills.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

Map: Fry's Electronics