OSAKA -- An 81-year-old tobacconist has twice in the past week convinced a would-be robber to leave his store empty handed, even after he turned up armed at the second attempt, police here said.

Just a week after the old man prompted the wannabe thief to leave his store because he had no cash there, the elderly cigarette vendor did the same thing again even when the man re-appeared wielding a knife.

After hearing the old man cry poor the second time, the thief silently packed his knife away and forlornly walked out the door, again bagging nothing.

Police are now searching for the thief to charge him with attempted robbery.

"He's probably thought he'd give the old man a bit of a scare if he pulled out a knife, but when he saw how relaxed the shopkeeper was, it might have dented his confidence," an officer from the Joto Police Station said.

Police said the wannabe robber, who tried to rob the store early on Sunday afternoon, is about 40, stands some 165 centimeters tall and was wearing a black cap.

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