Would-Be Robber’s Unlocky Break
This is the moment a hapless gunman flees empty-handed after being told by apologetic shop staff he had turned up too late for the till’s timelock.
The would-be robber had pulled out a handgun and a bag and ordered staff to fill it during the raid in Graz, Styria State, Austria, just after 6pm on 9th August.
But cool-headed workers told him he was too late and he should have robbed them an hour earlier.
CCTV video footage of the bizarre raid shows a female shop assistant staring down the barrel of the gun telling him: “But I can’t get into the till.”
Then her boss can be heard adding: “Actually it doesn’t work.”
Baffled, the gunman says: “But it has to.”
Without hesitating the woman then tells him again: “No, I can’t get in.”
Then the manager explains: “Unfortunately it’s impossible. We’ve turned it off. At six, it’s over.”
He adds: “Look, at six it’s over, the registry till is shut by now. You should have come an hour earlier. That’s how it is, unfortunately.”
![](https://austriantimes.newsx.agency/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Newsflash-BisDepart-011-731x1024.jpg.pagespeed.ce.wOnwopLqpi.jpg)
At that point, the masked gunman starts to leave the store but comes back apparently just to make sure.
The shop manager then tells him: “You can come over here and have a look. It happens automatically. I’m sorry.”
Police – who have not revealed the identity of the shop staff – say they are investigating the botched heist.
In a statement from 11th August obtained by Newsflash, Styrian Police said: “The perpetrator asked for cash but fled without any loot.
“The incident could be linked to robberies in Preding near Weiz and Kemeten in Burgenland State.”
The statement continues: “The Graz State Prosecution ordered the publication of a still and video footage of the shop’s surveillance camera.”
Police said the suspect may be between 25 and 35 years old, around 180 centimetres (71 inches) tall.
![](https://austriantimes.newsx.agency/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Newsflash-BisDepart-021.jpg)
He weighs around 80 kilogrammes (12.6 st) and speaks the local dialect, they added.
Netizens were stunned by the encounter.
‘__Lis_a__’ commented: “Most polite (attempted) robbery ever. Who claimed we’re unfriendly? Oh wait, that survey was just about the people of Vienna.”
‘Suchsuch’ pointed out: “Didn’t wear the mask properly, not even for the holdup.”
‘Herbygro3’ emphasised: “No raid after finishing time, it’s sacred!”
‘Fraupalatschink’ said: “Apart from all the bizarre ongoings, it’s nice to see how the staffers acted in a de-escalating way.”
And ‘Fairly.fleur’ joked: “As a robber, I’d feel very embarrassed. I’d quit!”