Raider's loot useless

Police are examining the footage from the scene. Photo / File

A burglar who forced his way into the Video Ezy store at Greenmeadows early yesterday morning got away with his arms full, but at the end of the day empty handed.

"I suppose we had the last laugh," store owner and manager Kevin Knox said.

The burglar forced the front doors to the Gloucester St store about 2am and appeared to have made a search of the counter area and gone through several cupboards.

He had come across a game console and decided that was what he wanted to make off with.

"But it's basically useless," Mr Knox said.

The machine, one of two available for hire, had been placed in the cupboard as staff were waiting for replacement parts for it to arrive.

"It won't go."

Mr Knox said the intruder ignored games and movies as well as two charity collection money boxes on the counter in favour of grabbing the machine.

He had been alerted to the break-in by a security company as he lived nearby and was on site "in about six minutes".

He believed the alarms that activated might have caused the burglar to quickly grab what he could and get out.

He was caught on camera surveillance although he was well covered up.

Police were examining the footage.

Eighteen months ago the store was targeted by a knife-wielding robber who walked in at closing time around 10pm and demanded money.

He made off with only a small amount of "float" cash in the till.