The two men went into the shop under the pretence of seeking donation, which is a common practice for priests to obtain donations from homes and business.

The pair therefore asked for the owner of the shop Orati Kongmum, who was said to be upstairs getting the air-conditioning repaired.

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While a worker in the shop went to call Kongmum, one of the monks picked the mobile phone on the table, hid it under his robe and left the shop immediately.

Kongmum came down only to discover that the men had gone with her mobile phone.

She said "That phone is so important to my business as I keep all my customers’ contact details on it as well as my accounts."

“I am so angry about this and am offering a 5,000 Thai baht (about £120) reward." She added.

The Thai Police are now looking for the monks who are said to be in their early twenties.