CCTV footage has captured the moment two brazen thieves stole a tip jar from the counter of a Thai restaurant.

Two young men can be seen loitering inside Pad Thai Live, in Gravesend Borough Market, before making off with the staff’s hard-earned tips.

Wearing dark clothes and with hats and hoods to mask their identity, the pair spend up to one minute standing in front of the counter smirking to themselves.

One of them then slowly walks away while the second grasps the jar, which contained around £50 in tips, and both run out into Queen Street.

A member of staff can immediately be heard shouting “they stole our tips jar” following the incident, which happened just after 2.30pm last Thursday (March 21).

Speaking to KentOnline, Pad Thai Live owner Richy Williams, said: “We noticed as soon as it happened. We couldn’t believe it.

“The audacity of these people that think they can just walk in and take our hard-earned money and nothing will happen to them.”

The former salesman, 45, said he immediately alerted the caretaker of the market following the incident who then contacted the police.

The tip jar is normally emptied at the end of the week and the takings split between the four members of staff.

Mr Williams, who lives in Ashford, has owned the restaurant for the past five years and has two other chains in Chatham Dockside Outlet and Maidstone town centre.

He said they are now going to have to invest in a purpose-built tip jar at the Gravesend branch that can be nailed to the counter and empty it more regularly.

“It shouldn’t have to be that way,” he added. “But unfortunately that’s the world we are living in.”

The restaurant, which is the longest tenant in the market, has released the CCTV footage in the hope someone will recognise the culprits.

Anybody who recognises the men or has any information should call the police on 01474 366149, quoting reference 46/46958/24.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or complete the online form on its website.