A brazen thief threw red chilli powder into a mobile shopkeeper's eyes before fleeing with nearly GBP 500 in cash in a daylight robbery.

The incident occurred on 30th April in the Ambedkar Chowk area of Chandpur, a town in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

CCTV footage shows the suspect entering the store under the pretence of recharging his mobile phone, first requesting an INR 19 (GBP 0.18) top-up, followed by another for INR 29 (GBP 0.28).

As the shopkeeper, identified as Suhail, opened the cash drawer, the assailant swiftly pulled red chilli powder from his jacket and flung it into Suhail’s eyes.

The attacker then grabbed INR 50,000 (GBP 480) from the till and escaped on foot.

Despite being temporarily blinded, Suhail attempted to pursue the thief but was unable to catch him.

The robbery was captured on the store’s CCTV system, and the footage has since spread all over social media.

Local police have confirmed they are analysing the video and working to identify and apprehend the suspect.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)