National Police officers are looking for four hooded men who broke into a luxury villa in Benalmádena and tied up one of the occupants who was also beaten.
The attackers also ripped a safe off the wall but didn’t manage to take it away.
After seizing other items the alleged robbers made their escape but dropped the weapon that was used to intimidate the victim.
The events happened at around 9pm on Thursday night in the Torremuelle area of the town.
The first calls to the emergency services spoke of a possible shooting which led to a strong police deployment. But, before the officers arrived the gang fled leaving behind an 'airsoft' rifle – a realistic-looking weapon that shoots plastic pellets – in the garden of the property.
Investigations are in their early stages but police have not ruled out a drug trafficking connection.