A brave woman refused to let a thief steal her bag, causing him to flee empty-handed.

The local was walking down the street, talking on her phone with a bag in hand, when the man stepped out of his car to snatch the handbag in Naples, Italy, on August 31.

Footage shows the robber abruptly grabbing the woman's bag and yanking it, hoping to pull it from her arm.

However, she pressed the bag tightly against her body, shooing the thief away with her other hand while still holding the phone.

The persistent assailant continued to tug at the bag, knocking her onto the sidewalk. After several unsuccessful attempts, he realised she would not give in and retreated to his vehicle.

He jumped into his car and quickly drove away from the scene. The shocked victim then picked up the phone from the asphalt and tried to use it while still holding her bag.