Three robbers were shot dead by a plainclothes detective early on Tuesday in Shantou, a coastal city in south China's Guangdong Province, said local police sources.

Xu Zhiwei, a policeman who has been assigned with the mission known as "strike against robbery, snatch-and-run acts ", rode a motorbike patrolling Laimei Road in Chenghai District alone at 6 a.m. and was assaulted by seven robbers when he approached a crossing at Fengxin No. 1 Road.

Xu showed his identity but the seven robbers who rode on three separate motorbikes continued to hack him and injured him in the back. After failing to warn off the thugs by shooting his gun into the air, Xu then opened fire on the robbers and shot dead one robber on the scene. Two more robbers died later on their fugitive journey.

Four more policemen who were on patrol in vicinity came to Xu's rescue. They helped capture the remaining four robbers, seized one dagger and two motorbikes.

The case is under further investigation, according to the local sources.

Editor: Yan