Wild macaques stole food from shocked vendors at a market in Thailand.

The pillaging pair - a male and a female - terrorised locals as they plucked fresh fruits from stands at the Kaset Suwaphan Muang Thong Food Market in Ang Thong province on November 18.

They perched on the awnings of buildings to eat, then escaped onto the roof of a nearby building.

It was the third time in a month that the monkeys had attacked the market.

Vendors believe the macaques had come to the area by climbing onto fruit vendors' trucks from Lopburi province. They said the monkeys have stayed as there was little competition for food from other monkeys.

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 the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.