This was the moment a brazen thief stole Rs 50,000 (GBP 528) from the side box of a motorcycle as the rider waited for his turn at a gas station.

The victim realised the theft a moment later, but the thief had managed to escape by then along with an accomplice.

The victim, Jageshwar Kumar Verma, had drawn money at a State Bank of India branch near Giridih in eastern India and was heading home on October 6.

The two thieves had noticed Verma drawing the money and followed him on another bike.

Verma stopped to refuel his motorcycle at a gas station when the thief and his accomplice struck.

Seeing that he was distracted and waiting for his turn, one of the thieves walked behind the motorcycle and brazenly took the money out in full public view.

A CCTV camera at the gas station filmed the slick operation. It also captured Verma soon realising that something was amiss and starting his bike to chase the thieves, who had fled by then.

Verma later filed a complaint at the Deori police station and inspector Anoop Roshan Bhengra visited the spot and took possession of the CCTV footage of the crime.

He said there were enough clues in the footage to capture the two men soon.