A quick-thinking gold shop worker foiled a snatch thief when he brazenly grabbed a box of jewellery.

Anuphan Kijpitak, 36, and her colleagues were closing up for the day when the alleged thief tried to steal the expensive accessories from the Yaowarat Thaweesin store in Chiang Rai, Thailand, on March 12.

CCTV footage shows the women tidying up at the counter when a man in a mask and cap pretending to be a passerby suddenly rushed inside and reached for the tray full of valuables.

However, he could only grab at Anuphan's sleeve as she reacted in time to keep the tray away from him. The suspect fled the scene, leaving the workers shaken in a corner.

Police Major Saranyu Burikaew and a team of officers from the Ban Du Police Station later arrived at the scene for an inspection.

They said they found that the culprit had taken two pieces of jewellery, but had dropped them in front of a drug store while running away. The accessories were returned by the owner.

Brave shop worker Anuphan said: 'The culprit might have been to the shop before because he knew where the valuable items were.

'After the incident, I learned that he rode his orange Honda Zoomer-X, heading to Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport.'

Police Major Saranyu said officers are now collecting surveillance footage from the man's suspected escape route.

He said: 'We are confident about making an arrest soon as we already know the suspect's identity and the vehicle he used to flee from the scene of the crime.'