Attempted robbery one big headache

Watched by an accomplice, the would-be robber throws a stone at the window. It rebounds and hits his head. Photo / Supplied

After the first attempt failed, he probably should have knocked it on the head.

But instead, the witless robber again hurled a rock at a window of the Empire Skate shop in Wellington.

The brick-sized stone rebounded off the reinforced glass pane and thumped the man on the head, causing him to career backwards.

He still hadn't had enough and threw the rock for a third time, before scarpering with an accomplice.

The shop's CCTV captured the bungling thieves, and their futile attempts to break in have provided plenty of laughs for store workers and made headlines around the world.

"The police came in and had a laugh along with us and everyone else," said store owner Matt Wells of the May 30 incident.

"Unfortunately he didn't knock himself out, it was a good head shot though. It's not the clearest footage but if you knew the guy you would probably recognise him."

The shop is offering a free skateboard to anyone who can name the robber.