Covington police are offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest of three young men who allegedly robbed a Covington loan business at gunpoint Monday afternoon.

In a "be on the lookout" alert issued today, the Covington Police Department released an image from video surveillance footage showing the three men outside the Food Depot in the Covington Crossing Shopping Center on U.S. Highway 278 shortly before they struck the Security Finance at 3:19 p.m.

The men grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and ran off into the woods around Turner Lake Road.

"The first man went in and acted as if he was filling out an application for credit, and while he was in there, the other two came in," said CPD spokesperson Det. Daniel Seals.

The men brandished a black pistol, forcing two female employees on the ground. They reportedly went behind the counter, emptied out the drawers and fled on foot.

The employees and multiple witnesses called and reported the event to police almost immediately.

Officers searched the roads and woods around Turner Lake Road for nearly three hours in bad weather conditions. The heavy downpour prevented the tracking dogs from keeping the scent, and police called off the search after exhausting all possible leads, according to Seals.

The men were described as wearing jeans and T-shirts, two with white T-shirts and one with a black T-shirt. The employees were unable to describe distinguishing characteristics, which was not unusual in victims of an armed robbery situation, Seals said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Steve Fowler at (770) 385-2146. Tips can be left anonymously online at www.covingtonpolice.com/secretwitness