Smash and grab raid fails as burglar hit by own rock

He tried once, he tried again, he tried a third time - but each attempt to break the shop window rebounded on him.

The still unidentified burglar was throwing a rock at a shop in Wellington, New Zealand, which sells skateboards and streetwear.

But the rock just kept bouncing back and knocking him on the head until he, and a watching accomplice, gave up.

Police say they hope the experience has knocked some sense into the burglar.

Detective Sergeant Mark Scott said the two offenders were caught on camera trying to smash a window of Empire Skate, in Herd Street, Chaffers Marina before dawn.

"We can see from the CCTV images, one of the offenders is seen throwing a rock at the window which then comes down and hits him on the head, at which point they flee the scene."

Police are now asking for witnesses to come forward as they continue to try to identify the failed burglars.