Police are searching for a man who stole $200 worth of “calming” tea from an adult store in Mackay in north Queensland.

The man entered the store yesterday morning and said he wanted calming tea but could not pay for it.

Staff member Aaron McGhee says the man came back several hours later again asking for the tea and threatened him with a brick.

He said the man fled on a motorbike with $200 worth of the tea.

“I’ve just come back from Melbourne … and I’ve never been mugged, never had any issues like that and then I’ve come back here – Mackay town – and this has happened,” Mr McGhee said.

Mr McGhee says the incident will not affect how safe he feels at work.

“I’m fine – it was five minutes of my life that I’ll probably forget after a couple of months.”

“It was a one-off – I’ve been working here for two months and another gentleman has been working here for nearly a year and nothing like this has ever happened.

“There’s video cameras everywhere and our number one rule is – just whatever they’re asking, if you’re threatened, just give it to them.

“We can [cop] it back – it’s all fine, we just want you safe – we can replace items, we can’t replace you.”