A marauding monkey stole food from vendors at a market in Thailand.

The female pig-tailed macaque, estimated to be around two years old, entered the Kaset Suwaphan Muang Thong Food Market in central Ang Thong province in search of food on November 1.

Locals watched as the monkey climbed along electric cables before descending and pilfering food from stalls.

The cheeky animal then perched on top of a building and consumed the stolen goods before escaping.

One of the vendors said macaques were often seen at the market, and would often pilfer food from shops. She said the female macaque had also stolen fermented milk from her shop.

The raid came just days after a male pig-tailed macaque tore through the same market and terrorised locals on October 29.

Market-goers said the macaque may have hitched a ride on a vendor's truck coming in from neighbouring Ayutthaya or Lopburi provinces.

Council officials are now monitoring the area to try and catch the monkeys so they can be relocated.

The southern pigtailed macaque is a medium-sized primate found in Southeast Asia, known for its distinctive tail with a kink near the end. They are social animals and live in hierarchical groups, often foraging for fruits, leaves, and small animals in their forest habitats.

Thailand's growing population of primates has become a problem as the animals are known to damage property, such as cars and buildings. Unafraid of the consequences, they have also started stealing food from tourists and locals.

Meanwhile, the Thai government is taking steps to manage the monkey population in the country, including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.