A woman and her teenage daughter were captured on camera stealing at a boutique in Kuala Lumpur, reported China Press.

The woman, in her 40s, was seen entering the boutique at about 12.30pm last Sunday with the girl. Another child aged about two was also with her.

In the shop, the woman kept talking to two assistants while the teenager stole a purse from a handbag left by the counter.

The family then left the premises.

The CCTV clip has been handed over to the police.

The boutique owner, identified only as Wu, 28, said she realised her purse was missing 10 minutes after the family had left the premises.

"The mother said she had to withdraw money from the bank when I told her I did not accept credit cards or cheques. After she left, she kept calling and asking me about the payment methods.

"I suspected something was not right and checked my handbag and found my purse missing," she said, adding that she had left the handbag on the floor at the counter.

Wu said there was about RM5,000 in the purse.

She added that RM800 was also spent using her credit card.

-The Star/Asia News Network