MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti) - A security guard, collecting cash from a shop at an out-of-town shopping center in the southeast of Moscow, was injured during a robbery as attackers made off with the day's takings, a police source said on Monday.

The incident occurred late Sunday night as the security guards left a branch of a cosmetic chain together with the day's takings. Over 1.5 million rubles were stolen during the robbery, the source said.

"Two unknown men threatened two guards carrying money from the cosmetics shop with firearms. They fired warning shots and beat up one of the guards and took his pistol, as well as 1.5 million rubles ($53,000)," the source said, adding that the guard had been hospitalized.

The latest robbery is the third this month in Moscow.

Late on Friday, a security guard turned on his colleague after collecting cash from a supermarket in the southeast of Moscow. The guard pointed a gun at his colleague and made off with some 6 million rubles ($213,000) and the delivery vehicle.

The delivery van was discovered the next day in the outskirts of Moscow, and some of the money was still inside. A search for the guard is underway.

And a security guard was killed in a robbery in downtown Moscow on December 9, when armed robbers made off with nearly 20 million rubles ($710,000).

Police believe that Russia is likely to see a growth in organized crime amid the rapidly spreading economic crisis.