Tacoma police were searching for three young men suspected of robbing a South End bookstore this morning.

One of the robbers was reportedly armed with a knife.

The men entered the Park Avenue Bookstore, 8304 S. Park Ave., just before 11:30 a.m. They took money from the cash register and fled out the back door, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.

The owner reported to officers the suspects had been hanging around the bookstore in previous weeks, taking small items, Fulghum said.

A police dog and officers searched for the suspects but were not able to locate them.

The robbers were described as in their late teens. All had a medium build and they stood between 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9. Two wore dark-colored hats and clothes. The third wore a baseball hat backward and red shorts, Fulghum said.