A cheeky monkey stole a lunchbox in front of shocked passengers in Thailand.

The animal climbed onto the back of a pick-up truck and plucked the food container right in front of the locals at the Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province on July 9.

Afraid the creature might be aggressive, the women had no choice but to let it escape.

Onlooker Ocha Wongwadee said: 'The monkey cut in front of our car so we had to brake. Then it hopped onto the back of the truck and stole the lunchbox full of rice.'

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.