An opportunistic robber managed to hold up a convenience store in LA by holding his hand behind his back.

The middle-aged man strolled into the store in the 500 block of West El Segundo Boulevard in the city of Los Angeles just before midnight on November 11 wearing a fedora hat.

He walked up to the counter with a bottle of water, and waited for other customers to leave the store before telling the two cashiers that he had a handgun.

An opportunistic robber managed to hold up a convenience store in LA by holding his hand behind his back, while telling the cashiers he had a gun

He ordered staff to hand over money from the till, threatening to shoot them if they did not comply with his request

Holding his hand behind his back, the thief ordered the employees to hand over money from the cash register, threatening to shoot them if they did not comply.

Shouting and swearing at the staff, the tattooed robber, wearing a pair of jean shorts, then jumped over the counter and snatched notes from the till.

Security footage from the store shows the robber with nothing behind his back but a closed fist as he ordered the cashiers to keep back.

The overweight robber then jumped back over the counter and ran out of the store clutching a handful of notes.

Police said the robber managed to escape with about $300 from the cash register.

Officers are now hunting the suspect, who is described as a white or Hispanic man, aged between 45 and 65.

Security footage from the store shows the robber with nothing behind his back but a closed fist as he ordered the cashiers to keep back

Keeping one hand behind his back, the robber jumped over the counter and snatched notes from the till

He managed to escape with about $300 in cash after he forced the terrified staff members to watch from a distance

He stands approximately 5ft 9in and weighs around 250lb.

At the time of the robbery he was wearing a light blue long-sleeved dress shirt, blue jean shorts, white socks, black ankle-high tennis shoes and a fedora hat.

He also has tattoos on his left index finger and hand which extends up his wrist and another tattoo above his right knee.