A HIGH school student pointed a replica pistol at a CBD shop owner in an apparent robbery prank to impress his mates.

The boy, aged in his mid teens, walked into the Shields St shop, produced the fake gun and demanded cash on Thursday afternoon.

"He stood in the middle of my store and pulled out a replica gun and pointed it straight at me," the owner, who wished to remain unnamed, told The Weekend Post.

The woman said she was initially shocked but soon realised the weapon was fake.

"I almost laughed a little bit and said, 'Mate, I know what a gun looks like'," she said.

"He was trying to be serious and he said, 'Give me your cash'."

She knew the supposed robbery was a hoax because the boy was wearing his school uniform and made no attempt to hide his face.

Two of the youngster's friends were just outside the shop laughing, she said.

When the group left, the woman said she noticed police nearby dealing with a man.

"It just shocked me that they were so confident to do this when there were police so close," she said.

"He (the main offender) looked really young, like about 14, and he was so confident."

Such a stunt would have traumatised people who were unaware the gun was a replica, she said.

"It wasn't really big but it did look like a real gun," the woman said.

"This is disgusting behaviour and I'm sure the victims of a real armed hold-up wouldn't share his joke either."

Cairns CIB Det Sen-Sgt Jason Chetham said although the incident appeared to be a hoax, the boy was technically committing a robbery.

Replica guns have been used in several armed hold-ups in the Far North in the past eight years.

Fake guns are legally sold in retail shops. However it is an offence to use them to cause fear.

The Queensland Police Union has been lobbying the State Government for a total ban of replica guns.

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