Watch as thief fails to rob woman in China

The man was only several feet away from the exit when he was apprehended

The moment the robber grabs the cash and handbag

A robber has spectacularly failed to steal a handbag from a woman as she was preparing to make a deposit at a bank in China.

CCTV footage from the bank in Taizhou, east China shows the man causally walking through the building before he snatched the cash and bag from a desk.

The thief then tries to make a quick getaway towards the exit as his victim is reeling from shock.

Unfortunately for the robber, two armed police officers were also in the bank at the time.

The man was only several feet from the door when the pair chased him down and tackled the robber to the ground before he could make could make his bid for freedom.

Some bystanders can be seen looking on in shock, while others chased after the man and helped to stop him from escaping.

It has emerged that the thief had been released from prison in July last year after completing a seven-month sentence for burglary.

The incident is now under investigation.