A BIZARRE theft at a Swan Valley bar has left customers and staff bewildered.

The crook wasn't after money but an eight foot tall painting of a Buddha that he somehow carried out in front of stunned patrons at Chapel Farm.

After a day out on a wine tour on Saturday the man decided it would be a good idea to take up the spontaneous challenge. It took him a couple of goes to get the canvas off the wall but eventually it breaks free.

In CCTV footage the man is seen running away with the 50kg stone painting.

Chapel Farm executive chef Amy-Joy Walker said she “couldn’t believe it”.

"There's about 20 screws holding it into the wall because of how heavy it it," she said

"It is so heavy."

Ms Walker and her assistant chef chased the man in a car across Toodyay Road onto the bush and the man panicked and dropped the painting.

They got the painting back but the man escaped.

The hand painted and sculptured artwork was worth about eight thousand dollars but was damaged in the attempted theft.

The man is described as aged between 25 and 30, fair-skinned, about 165cm tall, with a medium build and short brown hair. He was wearing a purple dress shirt, black pants, black and white sneakers and black sunglasses.

Anyone who knows the man is asked to contact police on 131 444.