This is the moment a hero motorcycle rider gives chase to catch a thief who allegedly stole a woman's mobile phone.

Arnel Regaton was travelling home when passed by two youngsters running in the middle of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Manila, the Philippines on December 10.

A few moments later he saw a distressed woman so he stopped in the middle of the busy rush hour traffic to talk to her.

The woman said the two youths running had stolen her phone as she was waiting for her bus home.

She said she crossed the highway and over the central reservation trying to catch up with the two alleged thieves but they were too fast.

Without having second thoughts, Arnel performed a u-turn pursued the two lads who had allegedly taken the woman's phone.

Footage shows how Arnel approached the pair, with one of the two suspects fleeing and the other immediately handing back the phone.

Arnel is heard saying in the background: "Give back the phone! Why are you stealing other people's property?"

The hero rider grabbed the handset then returned it to the woman.

An investigation to find the identity of the suspected thieves was carried out by the Caloocan City police after it was reported to them. However, they have still not been traced.

Arnel said: ''I would do the same again to help someone who is in distress.''