Police are hunting two Chinese tourists who allegedly stole a £22k diamond bracelet from a jewellery store in Thailand.

The suspects, a man and a woman, asked to try on the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 5 motifs yellow gold diamond bracelet worth around 1.04 million baht (22,684 GBP) at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok on April 16.

However, while the store attendant was distracted, the woman allegedly stuffed the accessory into the left sleeve of her blouse.

The pair then walked out of the store and allegedly fled toward Don Mueang International Airport in a taxi, sparking a police search.

Police said they had already flown back to Communist China.

Police Major General Noppasin Poolsawat, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said: 'Investigators have stopped tracking the two suspects after they fled Thailand.

'We found that they had boarded a green-yellow taxi to go to the Chatrium Hotel in Phetchaburi. After that, they called another cab and fled to the Suvarnabhumi Airport with their baggage. They went through the immigration gate at 7:11 pm and departed to China.

Jewellery store manager Somatat, 39, said the male suspect was wearing a grey shirt, glasses, and black pants, while his female companion was wearing a bucket hat, long-sleeved blouse, and glasses.

He said: 'While the staff was not looking, the woman hid the bracelet in her sleeve, covered by her phone. 

'Meanwhile, the male suspect distracted the staff by pocketing his phone in his. Both of them left the store and took a taxi in front of the mall to escape.'

Major General Noppasin said police were gathering evidence to prepare an arrest warrant. He said: 'We will arrest and prosecute the two immediately if they return.'