Disabled Canberra Big Issue vendor robbed

Vendors of The Big Issue often strike up conversations with passers-by hoping they'll give. Instead, this one took.

An intellectually disabled seller of the magazine was robbed of his takings while chatting to a man who introduced himself as Brett.

The victim had been heading home in suburban Canberra on Sunday when the man lured him into a laneway and stripped him of his bag containing small change.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to the robbery.

The thief has been described as Caucasian, aged about 20-25 years old, with a slim build and short, light-coloured hair. He was wearing dark pants, a dark T-shirt and runners.