This is the astonishing moment a brazen thief stole a handbag while a family were sitting together eating their dinner.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the man wearing a hat and a mask peeping through a plastic sheet in Kalasin province, northeastern Thailand.

The thief then moved in while everyone was distracted, grabbing a handbag and making his escape before the family could react.

The astonished family members chased after the thief to no avail, as he quickly fled on a getaway car waiting for him outside.

Homeowner Palm Nattakit said: 'We were just having dinner at home. There was cash and a mobile phone in the bag. The neighbours told me they saw the guy watching us from his car before he came down.'

Palm said he reported the theft to the police but they were unable to trace the thief.