Shopkeepers in Thailand's Lopburi province are looking to move business elsewhere as wild monkeys continue to besiege the city, scaring off customers and bringing the local economy to its knees.

Dozens of shops in the city's Manora market have already closed down since the pandemic, while more shopkeepers say they are planning to move out because of the macaque infestation.

Bag shop owner Ponnarin Uisakul, 56, said: ‘I am seriously thinking of moving to an area that is safer for customers and also for me. The monkeys damage my customers’ cars so after buying my products, they have to get their car fixed too.’

Tourists who visit Lopburi are forced to stay on high alert while roaming the shops as the wild animals are always poised to steal precious belongings and attack for food. Shades, dangling earrings, and plastic bags seemingly filled with edibles are some of the primates' favourite targets.

Street vendor Anat Mangkalang said: ‘If you’re just walking around with food in your hands, you’re done for. The whole troop will attack you and take whatever is in your hands.’

Aside from the danger of being assaulted, the monkey troops also dirty the sidewalks, leaving filth and excrement on the pavements as they loiter outside and even trespass into stores that have been shuttered.

The monkeys used to be fed with high-carb snacks and sugary drinks by visiting tourists until travel and business restrictions were imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. The sugar rush caused surges of energy and breeding frenzies which sent the population rocketing.

Thailand had been battling to control their surging monkey population before the pandemic started two years ago. Officials had even begun sterilising large numbers of primates.

There are believed to be more than 10,000 monkeys living in the centre of Lopburi, but only 900 of them have been sterilised as of 2020, local media said.

The creatures even split into rival gangs and regularly have huge fights in the middle of the road.