WATCH: Wannabe thief sent packing after trying to steal tips at Smith's Alternative

The thief is quickly stopped by a staff member at Smith’s Alternative on Tuesday. Screenshot: Smith’s Alternative.

Want to try to steal from the tip jars of hard-working hospitality staff? Not at Smith’s Alternative, you don’t.

Closed-circuit television footage caught a wannabe thief in the act on Tuesday afternoon (3 July), as well as the actions of the quick-thinking staff member who stopped him.

The staff member was behind the bar with back turned when a beanie-wearing man entered the near-empty music and arts venue in Canberra’s CBD, walked straight up to the counter and stuck his hand into the tip jar.

He rummaged around for only a couple of seconds before the staff member turned around and immediately slapped his hand away before shooing him out of the venue.

Smith’s Alternative co-owner Nigel McRae said his staff member had done the right thing and acted “appropriately assertive”.

It was the second time a thief had targeted the tips. Mr McRae said on the first occasion, someone grabbed the whole tip jar then walked out.

He said thieves had also twice broken in and stolen the till after the venue was locked up and closed. They’ve also taken musical instruments – a mandolin, trumpet and guitar.

“But in general it doesn’t happen very often,” he said.

“We have been given a lot of instruments from people, probably more than what has been taken.”