A stubborn shop-owner has fended off a tomahawk-wielding attempted robber by arming himself ... with tins of tuna and tubes of Pringles.

Fed up when the would-be-thief stormed the Brisbane store last night, Baz Rizk caught the intruder by surprise - pelting him with his own goods, until he gave up and ran away.

CCTV captures Mr Rizk taking the law into his own hands heading to the aisles for ammunition when the man demanded cash.

But the bandit left empty handed and probably bruised after the onslaught.

“Unfortunately you need to take the law into your own hands to protect yourself,” he told 7 News.

“Because after they rob you they get a slap on the wrist and walk out with nothing.

"We're not scared of them, it's just the element of surprise, the quick action, the experience we've had, we know what to do.

Camera Icon The would-be-thief demanded cash from the store owner, while wielding a tomahawk.

"The guy's got a tomahawk and he was about twice as big as me but size doesn't matter, it's what's inside.”

Remarkably it’s not the first time Mr Rizk has headed to the shelves to arm himself against alleged criminals, the last line of defence working in the past too.

Ten years ago he turned to an Aussie favourite.

“Last time it was a jar of Vegemite, family sized, a glass one right to the head.

“We'll take em down no matter what they've got in their hands."