Teenagers tried to rob a Luton off licence armed with a metal tube on Thursday.
Five men threatened the shopkeeper and demanded cash at Seymour Stores in Seymour Street at about 8.30pm.
The shopkeeper and his wife struggled with the offender and managed to disarm him but as this took place another offender grabbed a bottle of vodka and the group then fled the store.
Detectives are currently scanning CCTV footage which captured the incident but Det Con Ben Stone, who is investigating the robbery, is keen to speak with anyone who was in the area at the time of the robbery and may have seen the offenders.
The men were aged between 15 and 19 years old, slim build and wearing dark clothing with their faces covered.
Two of the group were white and two were black while the ethnicity of the fifth offender is not clear.
Call Det Con Stone on 01582 394471, the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.