A man cut a loss-prevention employee at a Marshalls store in Bixby Knolls Monday night, sparking a search for him and a co-conspirator, according to authorities.

The man and a woman were stealing clothing from the store at 4450 Atlantic Ave. when the employee tried to stop them around 9 p.m., Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer De Prez said.

That’s when the man cut the employee in the upper body with an unknown weapon and the thieves fled, De Prez said.

Police surrounded the area and called in a helicopter to help search for the two suspects, but they weren’t able to find them, according to De Prez.

The loss-prevention employee’s wound was minor, she said.

Police are still investigating and looking for the suspects.

Editor’s note: Police originally said the store employee had been stabbed. They later said detectives determined the injury was a minor cut, not a stab wound.