POLICE are hunting Scotland’s worst robber – a drunk wearing a plastic bag mask who tripped over shopping baskets within seconds of launching his “raid”.
The incompetent criminal – who claimed to have a gun in his pocket – left most of his face exposed.
The clown, who looked more like a failed superhero than hardened criminal, demanded alcohol from shop owner Naveed Akbar only to be told they didn’t even stock it.
Mr Akbar refused a demand for cigarettes before giving the dopey desperado a five-second countdown to leave his store in Dunfermline, Fife.
Hilarious CCTV footage shows the crook as he gives up and stumbles out of the shop, crashing into shelving on his way.
Mr Akbar, 43, said the robber burst in to the shop at 1.50pm on Saturday.
He said: “It was just a normal day and I was serving a customer when we noticed a guy with a plastic bag on his head had come into the shop and fallen over some baskets lying next to the door.
“He asked me to give him alcohol and I told him that we didn’t have any. Then he told me to give him all of our cigarettes and I told him I wasn’t going to do that.
“He said he had a gun and I didn’t believe him so I told him to show me it. He just stood there and stared at me for a bit, so I leaned over to him across the counter and gave him a five-second countdown.
“He then left the shop but still managed to barge into some shelves on the way out.
“I managed to catch it all on CCTV – when I look back I should have just grabbed him. You can’t go around telling people that you have a gun.”
Mr Akbar then phoned the police because he was concerned the man might try his luck somewhere else.
He said: “I knew the guy was just an idiot but there was a hairdressers next door and a bakery, and I didn’t want him trying out the same thing.
“I wasn’t scared of him at all – I’ve played American football since I was 13 and I was bigger than the guy. I was really just annoyed that he took my attention away from the Celtic game.
“We’ve been here for 20 years and we’ve never had anything like this happen. We know everyone around here and their parents and their grandparents, but I didn’t recognise him.
“I am thinking of going as a blue bag-masked robber for Halloween though!”
The suspected robber is described as white, in his late teens, 5ft 5ins tall and wearing a blue hooded jacket, dark trousers and dark trainers.
He was last seen running along Inchkeith Drive and officers are urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.
Detective Inspector Colin Robson said: “Thankfully, no person was injured in the incident and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area around the time and observed any person matching this description or acting suspiciously.
“We have officers dedicated to investigating this crime and have increased high-visibility foot patrols in the area.
“Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”
