A cheeky wild monkey stole a tourist's phone and fled to a pole, recording a video from its unique vantage point.

The pilfering primate snatched the device from a mini tripod on the floor as San Aung Nyunt was trying to record himself walking up the steps to the Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia, on September 12.

Footage shows the macaque clutching the Samsung Galaxy Z model phone and climbing the 30ft metal post. The monkey then appeared to use the smartphone to record the scenery - including San standing below alongside other visitors looking on in shock at the monkey.

The animal's accidental short video featured the colourful rails and Hindu temple arcs below.

Footage recorded by San on a second phone shows the primate biting and tasting the folding smartphone as it sat on the lighting pole. He can be heard in the video pleading with the animal to return his handset.

Tourist San, from Myanmar, said: ‘The monkey stole my Z Flip5 and recorded an awesome video of how the Batu Caves look from above. I was shocked, but at least the monkey released my phone so I could get it back. The video is very unique.'

The monkey eventually figured out the Samsung phone was inedible and dropped it onto the steps below, where San retrieved it and showed it was still working.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill famous for its series of caves and cave temples, which are accessible through a staircase painted in bright colours. It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.

At the base of the hill, large decorative archways with intricate carvings and colourful statues of Hindu deities greet visitors.