Crim with undies on his head tries to rob Port Melbourne pub

A man wearing underwear on his head and a makeshift cape allegedly tried to rob a pub with a gun.

A man wearing a cape and underpants on his head is the subject of a manhunt in Melbourne after an unsuccessful armed robbery.

The man allegedly threatened a staff member in a Port Melbourne hotel with a firearm about 2am on Wednesday.

However, he left empty-handed after the alleged plot did not go to plan.

Footage released by police shows the man running along the footpath before tripping on what police believe to a cape he was wearing.

The man became tangled in the cape as he ran.

Police believe he was wearing underwear on his head.

The alleged attempted armed robber falls, dropping a bucket and other unidentified items he was carrying.

In the act of tripping he has turned back to face the direction of the camera, and some dark material - which police suspect are underwear - can be seen being worn as a balaclava.

Police patrolled Port Melbourne after the attempted armed robbery but could not find the man.

In a statement released Monday, police say the man went into a hotel and threatened a staff member with a firearm, demanding cash.

Staff were unable to access any money, then the man became agitated and left.

Nobody was physically injured during the attempted armed robbery.

“At the time of the incident, it is believed he was wearing some kind of dark material draped around him like a cape and a pair of dark coloured underpants on his head,” police say in the statement.

Anyone who saw him or has footage from the Port Melbourne area from the early hours of May 22 is urged to contact police.

Police patrolled the Port Melbourne area but could not find him.

As well as the flowy shroud, the man was wearing a black T-shirt, light coloured pants and white runners.

Police are calling for anyone who saw the man, or who may have dashcam or further CCTV footage.

A confidential report can be made via Crime Stoppers.