Police in Chonburi, Thailand are hunting a man and wife who fled when locals demanded justice after they beat and tied two young kids to a tree to punish them for allegedly stealing.

Social media was flooded with photos of the two boys tied to a tree outside a temple where they were said to have stolen 200 baht from at the weekend.

Police hunts couple who beat and tied two kids to a tree

Dozens of locals gathered on Monday in the village to protest and demand the couple were arrested and charged with child abuse after the severe punishment they dished out after taking it upon themselves to be judge, jury and executioner.

The boys' guardian together with a social worker later took the boys to the local police station to file an official complaint with the Abbot of Wat Thung Niang asking the mayor to push for an arrest.

When police eventually catch up with the couple they are looking at child abuse, assault and illegal detention charges.