Armed shopkeepers chase attempted robber out of store (VIDEO)

What happens when a would-be thief tries to hold up a convenience store with a 1ft-long knife? Well, in Australia, he gets chased out the door within five seconds by an armed, no-nonsense shopkeeper. Thankfully, the cowardly retreat is all on CCTV.

At approximately 12:40pm local time on Saturday, a hooded man entered the store on Hemmings Street in Melbourne, Victoria and threatened staff, including a 14-year-old store clerk with a 30cm knife, demanding cash from the register, reports The Herald Sun.

The quick-thinking shop assistant grabbed what appears to be a metal bar and chased the would-be thief out of the store, followed by another similarly-armed member of staff.

The suspect evaded authorities and is still on the run, Victoria Police said in a statement.

"The man involved in the incident is perceived to be aged in his mid-30s to early-40s, with a slim build, and a tanned complexion. He was wearing a dark jumper with white lines around the cuffs and knee length shorts with white stripes part way down the side," the statement reads.

No-one was injured in the incident.