A man stole a forklift and then crashed it through a shop window after his efforts to secure work at Melbourne's wholesale produce market were unsuccessful.

According to the Herald Sun, he stole the forklift and drove it wildly around the market before heading for Barclay Square.

Road workers report seeing the man driving on the wrong side of the road, mounting footpaths before reversing through the shop window of a bicycle shop.

The police were called but, according to eye-witnesses, the man, who was wearing a reflector vest, blended in with other maintenance and road workers, and disappeared soon after by catching a taxi.