Police have released startling CCTV of  Mitchell Jacka, a man they describe as a threat to the community, allegedly making demands for cash from the till at a Mitchell bottle shop while brandishing a knife at about 5.05pm on Friday, February 16.

A staff member was injured as she fell from the counter fleeing from the shop to get help.

A nearby shopkeeper and others raced to the bottle shop and confronted the alleged thief who dropped the items in his possession and ran off.

Police say he is a threat to the community and should not be approached.

Call 1800 333000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.