A trio of bumbling would-be thieves put on a woeful display of driving skills during a failed ram raid at a supermarket in Carlton North this month.

Melbourne North Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident in which three masked offenders in two cars attended a store at the intersection of Princes and Drummond Streets on 17 July about 4.30am.

Demonstrating driving skills reminiscent of Austin Powers, the crooks spent about three-and-a-half minutes slowing inching forwards and backwards in their Ford ute as they attempted to line up the vehicle with the supermarket’s front door.

At last in position, the offenders rammed the front door of the supermarket several times and raced in to steal an ATM inside the store.

But the would-be thieves once again ran into difficulties as they attempted to wrap a chain around the machine in an effort to drag it out with their ute.

After a couple of minutes fumbling with the chain, the men eventually conceded the task was beyond them and drove away empty handed in the two vehicles they arrived in.

Investigators have released an image the vehicles and CCTV of the incident in the hope someone may recognise something.