A German man has died after blowing up a condom machine with a home-made explosion in a robbery-gone-wrong on Christmas Day.

The 29-year-old had tried to destroy the machine with two accomplices, according to police, in an attempt to get to the cash inside.

They attached their explosive to the machine in the nothern city of Munster before running for cover in their car nearby.

Destruction: A 29-year-old German man died after attaching a home-made explosive to this condom machine in an attempt to steal the cash inside

But the unfortunate thief, who hasn't yet been named, wasn’t able to get the car door closed in time and was hit in the head with a flying piece of shrapnel.

Although his friends took him to hospital in the nearby town of Schoppingen, he later died from his wounds.

When questioned by medical staff, his accomplices insisted that he had been hurt by falling down the stairs.

Explosion: The trio attached their home-made explosive to the machine before running for cover, but the man was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel and later died from his injuries

But they later admitted their botched robbery and were arrested by police, before being released later.

The police arrived at the scene after being called by a resident who heard the explosion, but the three burglars had already left.