Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment a thief tries to snatch a young woman’s backpack before four workmen get off a passing bus and pummel him to the ground.

The incident was filmed in the municipality of Itabira in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

In the footage, the 22-year-old suspect, who has since been arrested, is seen attacking the 36-year-old woman on the road as he apparently tries to steal her backpack.

A bus passes the scene and four burly workmen get off to help the victim, laying into the suspect and kicking him on the ground.

According to the young woman, she left home at around 5.45 a.m. to travel to work when she passed two men while walking along the road.

One of the men turned around and ran up to her. He allegedly tried to snatch her backpack while pushing her and calling her names.

The police report said he was armed with a knife.

After the suspect was beaten by the passing workmen, his accomplice, seen walking past the bus in a brightly-coloured jacket, reportedly threatened the group with a bottle that he ended up throwing against the bus.

The local police tracked down the suspect and his 24-year-old accomplice shortly afterwards and arrested them both.

According to the police, one of the suspects resisted arrest and used a four-month-old baby as a shield before assaulting an officer.

The police also said that they found drugs resembling cannabis and cocaine in the home, adding that both suspects have been in hot water with the authorities before.

The investigation is ongoing.