This thief clearly didn’t fear the wrath of God as he sneaked a handbag from a woman praying inside a church in Brazil and walked out with it.

The brazen theft at Sant’Ana Parish Church in Lavras, Minas Gerais State, on 4th November was caught by a security camera inside the building.

Footage shows how the suspect lifts the handbag out of the victim’s shopping bag on the pew in front of him as she kneels to pray.

He then gets up and calmly walks out with his loot seconds later without anyone apparently noticing.

The victim turned to Military Police as soon as she noticed her handbag was missing.

She told officers it contained her mobile phone, a purse with around BRL 300 (GBP 50) in cash, her credit card, and personal documents.

Officers quickly tracked the suspect down to a local boarding house, where he was caught with the stolen handbag – in addition to drugs – and was arrested.

Civil Police declined to reveal his identity or state whether he has a criminal record.

He was charged with theft and remanded in custody, while the victim’s stolen belongings – minus her mobile phone, which was not found – were returned to her.

The woman was also left with a lower bank balance after the suspect apparently used her card on a spending spree to buy clothes and medicine.

At the time of reporting, he remained at the disposal of justice.