This is the dramatic moment a brave restaurant owner tackled an alleged thief who tried to escape.

The alleged crook approached the counter before walking away and eyeing up a handbag left on a table. He then allegedly reached inside and stole cash from the purse.

However, cafe owner Sasitorn Sansuk, 38, returned from the toilet and noticed her bag had been moved and cash was missing.

She shouted at the man but he fled from the property in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province, central Thailand on January 4.

Footage shows how Sasitorn ran after the alleged crook and rugby-tackled him on the pavement outside.

Sasitorn said: ‘I already noticed him when he first entered. He looks like he was searching for something.

‘I didn’t know what he was looking for, but he kept looking at the ceiling, maybe for the CCTV cameras.’

Sasitorn said the man, who was wearing a grey hoodie and shorts, asked the staff about their menu but did not order anything and proceeded to walk around suspiciously.

When she went to the toilet she was concerned that he was no longer in the cafe and her bag had been interfered with.

Sasitorn added that she ran after him and tried to kick the motorbike so he would fall but he was able to ride away.

She said: ‘I was scared that he had stolen all of the money in the purse so I tried to take it back from him, but he was stronger and able to escape.’

The thief had escaped with 5,000 Baht cash, but his helmet, one slipper, and the bike’s side mirror were left at the scene which will be used as evidence.

The owner reported the incident to the police who began their investigation to identify the man.