It seems even a thief appreciates good manners.

A masked man walked into a Needs convenience store in Lower Sackville, N.S., Tuesday night and demanded cash and cigarettes from the clerk.

Cpl. Joe Taplin, an RCMP spokesman, said the employee simply refused.

"He asked him, 'Please leave the store,'" Taplin said.

That polite request caught the would-be bandit by surprise.

"The suspect then looked at him and said, 'You know, you're the first one to ask me to leave in such a nice way, and because of that I'm going to leave,'" Taplin said.

The man left the Cobequid Road store and headed up toward Sackville Drive.

Taplin said the clerk handled the situation well, though the usual advice for people in this situation is to simply hand over the cash.

He said the clerk used his negotiation skills and didn't escalate the situation by arguing.

The suspect is described as a young white man, about 17 years old. He was wearing a white bandana over his face and a navy blue top with dark jeans.

The investigation continues.