This is the moment a brave biker wrests the handgun from the crook trying to steal his motorcycle and then shoots him in the leg.

A CCTV camera caught the drama on a deserted street in Sao Paulo, south-eastern Brazil on 23rd October.

The clip shows how the unsuspecting victim is riding his motorbike along the road when two men on another motorcycle pull up alongside him.

The man riding pillion can be seen getting off and walking towards the victim while brandishing a pistol.

The victim dismounts his bike with his arms raised in the air while the crook tries to ride off on his bike.

But the footage shows how the crook struggles to operate the stolen vehicle, which falls on its side beneath him.

As the thief tries to lift the bike back up, its owner suddenly sprints towards him and wrenches the gun away from him.

Then as they break apart, the bike’s owner fires at least twice, hitting the crook in the leg, who can be seen giving way.

As the biker keeps the gun on the would-be thief, he sits on the tarmac raising his arms apparently begging not to be shot again.

Then the biker waves in a police patrol car, which had been looking for the source of the gunfire, reported local media.

The would-be bike thief – still conscious – was taken to hospital under police escort and was charged with attempted theft.

Medics said a bullet had lodged in his leg but he was not at risk of death.

When he is well enough to be discharged, he will attend a custody hearing.

Police questioned the shooter and determined he had acted in self-defence and had, therefore, committed no crime.

It is not clear if the third man involved – who fled – was caught.

Public safety experts typically recommend that robbery victims remain calm and do not resist.