Two men have been charged and police are searching for two others following the alleged armed robbery of a brothel in Sydney’s inner-city.

About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 10 January 2013), four males entered the business on Botany Road, Alexandria, posing as customers.

The offenders confronted the 49-year-old male owner before threatening the business’s cleaner, a 47-year-old man, with a firearm.

The group allegedly assaulted the cleaner before he managed to escape to a nearby business where police were alerted.

Two of the armed men chased the cleaner out of the business before they were stopped by officers from Redfern Local Area Command.

The men – both aged 34 – were arrested and taken to Redfern Police Station where they were charged with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon.

They were refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Friday 11 January 2013).

The other two offenders fled the scene on foot and have not yet been located.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing and detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.