Brian Wilkes awoke to discover his lounge room window wide open with its fly-screen removed, suggesting his Sherwood Avenue home had been ransacked by a thief. 

The 34-year-old’s fury quickly changed to laughter when he discovered the clumsy crook left behind his wallet – with almost $200 inside.  

He claims the alleged thief only stole $40 in cash and his four-year-old son’s Shrek DVD collection. 

“This is amateur hour at its finest,” Mr Wilkes said. 

“Shrek has really saved the day.

“He must have been so distracted by him that they left without his wallet and barely took anything.”

The menacing ogre is the main protagonist in one of Dreamworks’ most successful film franchises in the past decade.

Mr Wilkes said he will use the money to replace his son’s Shrek DVD’s – and hopefully buy him a “nice, expensive meal.”

“Unfortunately he didn’t leave his license in there,” he said. 

“They could have just asked me and I would have accepted it as a trade.

“I guess it shows just how desperate some of these guys are becoming.”

It comes as Wagga police continue their hunt for a toothless bandit who has allegedly invaded a series of homes near the CBD and Ashmont.

Officers claim repeat offenders are responsible for the majority of the city’s property crime.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 666 or Wagga police on 6922 2599.