The moment brave 8-year-old boy chased robber who had just stolen his mother's purse at gas station

This is the incredible moment an eight-year-old boy put his life on the line so his sister could have a birthday party.

Jose Alonso was sitting with his sister in his family's minivan at a Houston gas station on Thursday when a brazen thief reached into the front seat and stole his mother's handbag.

But rather than sit in silence, brave Alonso tried to fight off the robber before chasing him through the gas station.

Footage obtained by KPRC shows Jose's mother, Nancy, leave her car by a gas pump at the Buzzy Bee Gas Station on South Post Oak about 7am to reportedly pay inside.

That's when a man stepped out of a red Ford Expedition parked next to the Alonso's minivan and hovered at the pump.

As a woman sat in the passenger seat of the red Ford, the robber opened the door of the minivan and swiped the purse sitting on the seat. 

Alonso jumped into action, with footage showing him grapple with the thief.

The bandit managed to run off with the bag and jump back into his SUV.

But Jose didn’t want the man to get away.

Wearing just one shoe, the little boy chased after the robber and managed to pull his mother’s wallet out of the stolen bag.

'We were just watching him, like what is he doing, we were just looking at him, and I blink my eye, and I see him open the car door really fast, I told my sister just stay here, don't do anything,' Jose said.

'I was scared a little bit, but I told myself just go with it.

'I ran as fast as I can. So I reached in and grabbed my mom’s black wallet with her credit cards.'

Jose said he pursued the man because he wanted his mom to have enough money to pay for his sister's birthday party.

'My sister’s party was coming up and I wanted to have her party, and I wanted my mom to get all of her stuff back,' the protective boy said.

Police are hunting the suspect, described as slender and in his 20s, who escaped only with the bag and a set of keys.