This footage shows a bungling thief jumping off a scooter and attempting to carry out a mugging but failing as he trips, loses his flip flop and then gets attacked by a dog.

The incident took place on Prefeito Evandro Ayres de Moura Avenue in the city of Fortaleza, the capital of the north-eastern Brazilian state of Ceara on the afternoon of Tuesday, 5th October.

The CCTV footage starts with two young women sitting on some steps on the pavement when the suspected thief pulls up riding pillion on a motorbike.

He jumps off and while attempting to run towards them, his flip flop appears to come off and he stumbles on the edge of the pavement.

Managing to avoid falling over, he has lost the effect of surprise and one of the young women immediately takes off down the street.

He also appears to have managed to spook a napping dog that appears to bite him.

At this point, the thief makes a hasty retreat while the second woman also runs off down the street.

Local media outlet G1 reported that the suspect had been attempting to grab a mobile phone from one of the two young women.

G1 also reported that the suspect was bitten on the shin by the dog.

A local shop owner is quoted in the Brazilian media outlet as saying that the area is rife with crime, adding: “To this day, my store is the only one on the avenue that has not been robbed. Every day I ask God for protection, because they have already broken into all the grocery stores and warehouses.”

The Department of Public Security and Social Defence (SSPDS) has stated that the incident is being investigated by the police.

No arrests had been reported at the time of writing.