A monkey thief stole a camera lens-shaped coffee mug from a parked motorcycle.

Footage shows the macaque raiding the two-wheeler, looking left and right to make sure no one was getting near, while pulling the bottle off the helmet in the basket in Songkhla province, Thailand, on October 21.

It then quickly fled while hugging the novelty mug which it tried to open while sitting on a fence.

Parkgoer Atiwit Sosanui said: ‘It stole the motorcycle rider's coffee mug. I bet it could smell what was inside and wanted a taste.'

Thailand's growing population of primates has become a problem as the animals are known to damage property, such as cars and buildings. Unafraid of the consequences, they have also started stealing food from tourists and locals.

Meanwhile, the Thai government is taking steps to manage the monkey population in the country including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating of public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.