Man pulls out pocket knife after stealing phone in Echuca shop

"He (staff member) realised the guy put something in his jumper pocket and confronted him about it," he said.

"The guy pulled out a Stanley knife and showed it to him, trying to threaten and intimidate him, so I walked up and confronted him.

"I saw the Samsung S9 phone box is his pocket and told him to give it to me. I told him just to leave the phone and that the camera was on him, but he didn't care and kept edging towards the door, saying I couldn't stop him.

"I didn't go too hard because he had the knife and eventually let him out because it wasn't worth it.

"I wasn't overly worried but I didn't think a $500 phone would be worth getting hurt over."

Mr Coutts has shared the CCTV footage of the incident on COPS Echuca Facebook page.  

Police are investigating.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Echuca police on 5483 1500 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.