A man is under police guard in hospital after an attempted armed robbery in Sydney’s south.

About 1.15am today (Sunday 12 May 2013), a 27-year-old man used a sledge hammer to smash through the glass doors of a licensed premises on Station Street, Engadine.

Once inside, he allegedly approached an employee, threatened him with a pistol and demanded money from the safe.

The employee complied with the request however; the man was overpowered by staff at some point during the incident and then detained by employees.

Police attached to Sutherland Local Area Command attended the scene shortly after and arrested the man.

A 27-year-old Kirrawee man suffered minor injuries during the struggle with the employees and he was taken to Sutherland Hospital for treatment.

He remains in hospital under police guard.

A male employee suffered minor injury to his head as a result of the incident and is also receiving treatment at Sutherland Hospital.

No shots were fired during the incident and the firearm was confiscated by police.

Police are investigating possible links between this incident and an earlier break and enter at a licensed premise on the Princes Highway, Heathcote, about 1am today (Sunday 12 May 2013).