This is the moment a gang of cheeky monkeys steal plastic containers full of fruit from unsuspecting tourists.

The images were filmed at the Agua Mineral National Park in the Brazilian capital Brasilia earlier this month and show a number of instances of the monkeys stealing people’s picnics.

Local media reported that the monkeys have learned to recognise bottles of mineral water and plastic containers full of sandwiches, fruit and other tasty snacks.

The video shows a first monkey calmly approaching a woman sitting on a blanket on the ground with her picnic in a bag.

She gets to her feet and stands back as the monkey looks into her picnic bag, prompting her to grab it.

But she is not fast enough, and the monkey snatches a plastic container full of food straight out of it as people laugh.

The video then cuts to two monkeys enjoying some bananas as a plastic bag lies empty next to them after they apparently mugged another tourist.

In another incident, the footage shows a monkey running up to a picnic bag to search its contents before a tourist tries to challenge it, but the monkey is not intimidated and instead rushes towards the tourist in a display of strength.

The tourist backs off, allowing the monkey to pick out a large container from the bag and march off with it.

A second monkey then takes advantage of the fact that the tasty nosh has been left unattended to try its luck, with a tourist apparently throwing something at it in a bid to scare it off.

Meanwhile, its pal scurries off across the grass with a purple box full of food as the person filming laughs.

The footage ends with what appears to be a park ranger whistling at a monkey to get away from a picnic area, with the primate seeking refuge in a tree as the person filming laughs again.

The images were reportedly filmed by Victor Gabriel Rodrigues de Carvalho, 28, who said: “I had heard from several friends that they had been robbed by monkeys, but I had never seen it. Every now and then I watch the video again and laugh. Everyone had to change places.”

The young man praised the work of the employees of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), who, despite not having full control of the situation, guided the visitors and paid close attention to everyone.

He said: “They protect the monkeys, after all it is their habitat. They are always alert, as there are people who may end up reacting and throwing things at the monkeys.”