CCTV captured the moment a thief in Indonesia pretended to buy cigarettes as a ruse to steal a sack of the shop's best rice, on Friday 3 September.

The thief took advantage of the shopkeeper's trusting manner and the fact the shop was quiet.

The store was Evi Mart in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra province.

The perpetrator, a man without a helmet on a motorcycle without a license plate, stopped by the shop and went straight to the cashier's desk, where he asked for several types of cigarettes to distract the shopkeeper.

He briefly looked at the CCTV, realised his face was caught on camera and immediately left the shop, grabbing a sack of super high quality rice and riding off on his botorbike.

Sultan, the shop owner, said the theft took place when most of the men usually in the store were performing Friday prayers.

"The modus operandi was to buy cigarettes but it didn't work. He suddenly left the shop and took rice. He was shouted at by the shopkeeper but he fled towards the station," Sultan said.

The thief took a sack of super quality rice weighing 10kg, worth 120,000 rupiah, about 8.42 US dollars.

The act of stealing a sack of rice by pretending to buy cigarettes at a shop in Indonesia caught on CCTV.

The thief took advantage of the shopkeeper's carelessness and the quiet atmosphere around the scene.

CCTV footage shows that the theft occurred at the 'Evi Mart' store in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra province on Friday, September 3.

The perpetrator, a man without a helmet on a motorcycle without a license plate, stopped by the shop and went straight to the cashier's desk.

Then he asked for several types of cigarettes to distract the shopkeeper while monitoring the situation.

He briefly looked at the CCTV, then realized his face was caught on camera so he immediately left the shop and grabbed a sack of rice before leaving with the stolen goods.

Sultan, the shop owner, said the theft took place when most of the men were performing Friday prayers.

"The modus operandi was to buy cigarettes but it didn't work. He suddenly left the shop and took rice. He was shouted at by the shopkeeper but he fled towards the Station," Sultan said.

The thief took a sack of super quality rice weighing 10 kg for 120,000 rupiah or about 6 GBP.

Shop owner spread CCTV footage and photos of the perpetrator's face to various social media.