A California business owner has released surveillance footage of a man stealing a chainsaw from his store by stuffing the blade of the power tool down his pants.

Key points: The business owner posted the video to Facebook to try and track down the thief

The business owner posted the video to Facebook to try and track down the thief The man is shown putting the blade down the front of his pants before covering the engine assembly with his jacket

The man is shown putting the blade down the front of his pants before covering the engine assembly with his jacket The owner said he believed the thief and another man had been watching the store for the past week

RG Equipment posted the video, as well as an enlarged image of the culprit, to Facebook in an attempt to track down the thief.

The video shows the man take the chainsaw from a display, stuff the blade down the front of his pants and cover the engine assembly with his jacket.

Business owner Jeff Bennett told local newspaper the Fresno Bee the thief drove off in a pick-up truck, or ute.

He said he believed the man and an accomplice had been watching the store for the past week, preparing for the robbery.

"You get a feel for these people," Mr Bennett told the newspaper.

Jeff Bennett posted this image of the man he said was responsible for the theft. ( Facebook: R G Equipment )

Reuters/ABC