Burglar is caught on CCTV rappelling down a chimney

  • The burlar lowered himsed into the Amvets Thrift Store in Copiage on August 9
  • The suspect ran way empty-handed when the security alarm went off
  • Police are offering $5,000 for information that will lead to the man’s arrest

Christmas may still be months away, but this crafty crook took a leaf out of Santa’s playbook when he broke into a Long Island store.

Surveillance footage just released by police shows a burglar slowly lowering himself into the Amvets Thrift Store in Copiage after he tied a hose to piping on the roof the morning of August 9, according to Suffolk County police.

The man is then seen walking around the store for a few minutes, taking his time to inspect the furniture and clothing, and using something that seems like a cloth to cover his face.

There’s something in the chimney! The burglar (pictured) tied himself to a hose, which he tied to piping on the roof of the Amvets Thrift Store in Copiage, according to police

Taking his time: The man walked around the store for a few minutes, taking his time to inspect the furniture and clothing

Taking his time: The man walked around the store for a few minutes, taking his time to inspect the furniture and clothing

But his efforts were fruitless – as he approaches the cash register, the store’s alarm goes off and the clearly afraid man begins looking for a way out.

He finds a ceramic container and throws it at the glass front door,  running away empty-handed.

Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that will lead to the man’s arrest, as reported by NBC NY. 

A stealing spree cut short: As he approached the cash register,  the  security alarm went off

A stealing spree cut short: As he approached the cash register, the security alarm went off

Quick-thinker: The startled man then looked around for a way out, found a ceramic container and threw it at the glass door before running away empty-handed

Quick-thinker: The startled man then looked around for a way out, found a ceramic container and threw it at the glass door before running away empty-handed

Still at large: The suspect (pictured) covered his face with some sort of cloth as he browsed the aisles of the large thrift store 

Still at large: The suspect (pictured) covered his face with some sort of cloth as he browsed the aisles of the large thrift store 

Wanted: Police are offering $5,000 for information that will lead to the man’s arrest (pictured is the Amvets Thrift Store in Copiage) 

Wanted: Police are offering $5,000 for information that will lead to the man’s arrest (pictured is the Amvets Thrift Store in Copiage) 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk