A security camera in northern India has captured the bizarre moment armed robbers used hand sanitizer in a jewellery store seconds before whipping out guns and stealing gold and cash worth thousands of dollars.

Footage filmed in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh on Friday (September 11th) shows the masked robbers complying with COVID-19 protocols and allowing a jewellery store worker to spray them with the sanitizer which they then rub into their hands.

Moments later, the men pull out pistols and begin to grab jewellery and cash which they stuff into rucksacks.

Police are searching for the men who are reported to have made off with jewellery worth 49,000 US dollars and around 660 dollars in cash.