A shopkeeper says he was threatened by a man who "does martial arts" after he apparently stole three cases of Desperados.

The tequila-flavoured beer was taken on Thursday evening from New Eltham Food & Wine.

A video circulating on social media shows a man in a southpaw stance trying to kick the shopkeeper outside the store.

This was after the suspect was followed outside the shop after the alleged theft.

"He said he does martial arts and he will beat the hell out of me," the shopkeeper said. "My son tried to grab the basket and was pushed over.

"He threatened me in an aggressive manner and said he would smash my face up. The usual stuff. This happens once in a while."

The alleged thief left with the Desperados after the shopkeeper went in to get a baseball bat.

"It makes your life harder," the shop assistant told News Shopper. "The thing is there is now so much crime that people don’t even bother to report it to police."

The police arrived to take statements after someone who witnessed the altercation contacted them.

The shopkeeper insisted he was not hurt after the incident.

News Shopper has contact the Met Police for more information.