A tourist was seen cutting a chain lock on his rented motorcycle to avoid parking fines in Thailand.

Footage shows the holidaymaker using bolt cutters to remove the lock from a motorcycle without a license plate in Phuket on April 26.

After breaking the restraints, he was seen making a cheeky shushing gesture to onlooker Thankrit Tantichuphan.

Thankrit Tantichuphan said the driver fetched the pair of bolt cutters when he could not remove the chains by hand.

He said: 'The foreigner man was shaking the chains trying to break them. When he failed, he walked across the road. I thought he was going to pay the fines at a police station, but he returned with the bolt cutters which I think he bought from a nearby shop.

'He saw me, but he didn't hesitate to cut the chains off anyway. He gestured for me to keep quiet before riding away. I hope he gets punished.'

Police Colonel Prathueng Phonmana, superintendent of the Mueang Phuket Police Station, said officers are investigating.

The cop added: 'We are reviewing security camera footage to locate the motorcycle rider and take legal action.'