Vic man with jerry can tries to rob shop

A man has been charged after allegedly arming himself with a jerry can and a knife and trying to rob a Melbourne pharmacy.

Police on Tuesday say the St Kilda man, 23, threatened staff inside the South Yarra chemist shop with his weapons before a witness managed to walk him outside just after 5.30pm on Monday.

Police surrounded the man on a side street and negotiated his arrest two hours later.

The man is facing several charges including making threats to kill and attempted armed robbery in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.