A shoplifter's efforts will be all in vain as the two iPhones he stole from the Spark Wanganui store on Tuesday afternoon were demonstration models.
A man - described as Maori or Polynesian and aged about 17 - entered Spark Wanganui in Victoria Ave and yanked two phones from the store's display.
However, owner Shane Nottage said the theft was caught on the store's security cameras.
"He went to the phones, obviously he had a quick look around just wrapped the phones together and ran," Mr Nottage said.
The man crossed Victoria Ave and ran down an alleyway next to America Nails.