(Image credit: ABC News)

A man who intended to rob a Papa John's pizza restaurant in Montana to feed his family began crying before the clerk told him he would prepare a pizza and chicken wings.

The would-be thief entered the restaurant just after midnight on Monday, wearing a hooded jacket and a red bandana, according to the Associated Press. He handed a restaurant clerk a note.

"The note said something to the effect of, 'Do what I say and you won't get hurt'," Helena Police Chief Troy McGee told ABC News.

As the clerk started to give him cash from the cash register, the thief started to cry, explaining that he only wanted to feed his wife and family.

After the clerk offered to give him pizza and chicken wings, the man waited for the food for about 10 minutes. While the thief was seated, a large knife fell out of his pocket, which he then picked up and returned to his pocket, McGee said. He later left the store.

"I'd say the clerk was pretty astute," McGee told the AP. "I mean, he knows how to talk to this person. Kind of commiserated with him a little. Talked to him about it and you know actually changed his mind about robbing the place. That was pretty good."

McGee said they'd like to find the unidentified man, but the prosecutor would make a decision whether to charge him or not.

The man in question is about 5 foot, 9 inches with a slender build, according to the police.

Papa John's did not return a request for comment.