This is the dramatic moment a hero hotel worker beats a drug-addled thief with a broom - catching him before the police arrive.

CCTV footage shows the street sweeper whacking the alleged robber named Thitiphan Karimarangkun, 40, who was escaping from the Renaissance Pattaya Resort and Spa in Pattaya, Thailand, on February 3.

Thitiphan was earlier seen on camera plucking a Russian tourist's bag from a beach lounge chair before fleeing from the scene. He ran along the beachfront only for his getaway to be foiled by the quick-thinking worker.

Police later followed the suspect and detained him. He was taken to the station and admitted to stealing the goods from the holidaymaker.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Saphanon of the Jomtien district station said: 'Mr Thitiphan Karimarangkun, 40 years old, was arrested and we found the white Isuzu D-Max pickup truck, registered in Bangkok, which was used in the theft.

'In addition, the suspect was found with methamphetamine. The police therefore took him in for questioning at the Na Chom Thian Police Station to proceed with legal action.'

The stolen bag, which contained a Google Pixel 8 mobile phone, a driver's license, two credit cards, and a hotel key card, was returned to Russian tourist Igor Lysenko, 45, who thanked the police for the swift conclusion of the case.

Igor said: 'I am very grateful to the employee for hitting the thief with his broom. I would like to do the same. Thankfully there are lots of very good people who have helped to retrieve our belongings'