This footage shows how a suspected burglar posing as a candyman selling Skittles and M&Ms deftly gets out of the way at the last second as his three alleged accomplices rush past him through the front door and storm a home in California.

It first appears that he is just an innocent bystander, as he can be seen walking away from the home, but he quickly turns on his heels and heads back towards the premises while reaching for what appears to be a balaclava or a ski mask from his pocket.

The incident was caught on a security camera set up to monitor any activity taking place in front of the home, which is located on Joplin Lane, in the city of Stockton, In Central Valley, in the western US state of California. The incident occurred on Monday, 7th March 2022.

The footage begins with the man, who can be seen wearing a COVID protecting face mask standing in front of the home. He can be seen holding a box of what appears to be sweets, including Skittles and M&Ms.

He appears to be interacting with the homeowner, before he bends to one side, apparently to handle some cash he has just been handed, and this is when the three men run up to the home and rush past him, with at least two of them apparently carrying firearms.

Noises of shock and alarm can be heard coming from inside the home.

At first, it appears that the ‘candyman’ is an innocent bystander and he backs away from the incident. But he then pauses, turns around, and walks back towards the house before putting on what appears to be a ski mask.

But then, he appears to change his mind or get cold feet and removes the ski mask, or balaclava, before seemingly walking away as the footage ends.

Newsflash obtained the footage from the Stockton Police Department, who said: “On March 7, 2022, officers responded to a report of a residential robbery in the 10300 block of Joplin Lane. Officers met with the victim who advised she answered a knock at the door to one of the suspects, who was posing as a candy vendor. A short time later, armed suspects rushed past the victim and went inside the house. The suspects stole personal belongings and then ran out of the house.”

The police have shared the footage in a bid for people with information to contact them. The suspects are currently at large and are being sought by police, who said: “The Stockton Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to call our non-emergency number at (209) 937-8377 or the Investigations Division at (209) 937-8323.”

The police investigation is ongoing. No names have been released and it was unclear at the time of writing if the people inside the home were harmed during the incident.