A quick-thinking mother set her pit bull on three thieves who were attacking her family on the street.

The dramatic incident was captured on CCTV footage and showed a family getting out of their car around 8:30pm last week.

They had just returned to their home in the Penha District of Sao Paulo, Brazil, when their evening took a terrifying turn.

As the mother walked towards their home, she turned around and saw two thugs manhandling her husband outside of his taxi across the street.

\One of the men aggressively grabbed the husband and demanded he hand over the car keys.

However, the cab driver refused, knowing their child was still strapped in the vehicle.

Thinking quickly, the mother rushed into the house and returned with her pit bull by her side.

Once she was close enough, she unleashed her loyal dog.

One of the thieves took cover on the opposite side of the car, while his accomplice immediately jumped out of the driver’s seat, and they both fled down the road.

The dog can be seen chasing one of the thieves who ran off in the other direction, while the family attended to their crying child still strapped in the car.