Queensland police have released CCTV footage in the hunt for a man who stole $30,000 worth of seafood from a restaurant a week before Christmas.

Police said the man forced entry into a locked external freezer outside the restaurant on Woodcliffe Crescent at Woody Point, north-east of Brisbane, at around 2:00am on Wednesday.

Around 30 boxes of seafood — including prawns, crabs, assorted fish and Moreton Bay bugs — were removed before the man fled the scene.

The seafood was in white boxes with a distinctive "Cleveland Bay Seafood" blue logo on top with the image of an orange prawn.

Police said they believed the man may have left the scene in a white ute which was captured on security cameras driving onto Lila Street.

The theft of the seafood in the lead up to Christmas was described as "particularly callous" by police.

"Not only does this have a financial impact on the restaurant, but it's the time of year where many people like to come and enjoy a Christmas seafood meal — and this theft flies in the face of the spirit of the season," Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Hogan said.

Police have urged anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area between 1:50am and 2:10am to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.