Police have released extraordinary vision of a bumbling copper theft gone wrong in Southbank.

The footage shows several explosions coming from a substation on Fawkner Street, and a sheepish man leaving the substation soon after.

Press PLAY below to see the dramatic vision

Police have been told the unknown man forced entry to the substation at about 5pm on November 17.

Once inside, he used a spanner to steal about $1000 worth of copper from a power board, causing the explosions.

The man walked away empty handed but without serious injuries.

He was last seen getting into an orange Holden Captiva on Moore Street and drove away from the scene.

Press PLAY below to hear what happened