A search has been launched for a mystery woman who allegedly snatched tip jars from at least five Gold Coast businesses in the space of a fortnight. 

Queensland Police are asking the public for information on a woman aged in her 50s, in relation to multiple stealing offences. 

Police will allege the woman attended a number of cafes across Inala, the Brisbane CBD, Coolangatta, Biggera Waters, Bongaree, Chermside and Indooroopilly. 

Security footage obtained by the Daily Mail showed the woman standing at the counter of multiple cafes on the Gold Coast, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce on the jars and slip them into her purse. 

She visited Goya Cafe in Broadbeach and a cafe in Southport within an hour before being captured at BSKT Cafe in Miami a few days later on May 16. 

BSKT Cafe owner Sonia Griggins told the Daily Mail she had spotted the woman a couple of weeks before the theft occurred. 

She recalled how the ordeal played out, saying her move was perfectly calculated. 

'She walked around the side with her water bottle and while she was filling it up at our water station, she was watching where our staff was,' Ms Griggins said. 

'As soon as she got her opportunity, which was within a few minutes, she went around the side [away from where our staff were going] and very quickly took the tip jar.'

Ms Griggins only noticed the tip jar, which contained up to $200, was missing a few hours after it was stolen, but was able to retrieve CCTV footage within minutes. 

'I checked with the staff first to see if they had already packed it up or hadn't put it out that day,' Ms Griggins said.

'I have many cameras and it took me about two minutes to find the footage of her.

'She just blatantly took it in front of customers waiting for coffees.' 

Remarkably, Ms Griggins claimed the woman returned just days later to try and steal from another shop in the same precinct.  

'She actually had the guts to come back and went over to one of the other stores to have a look at their counter,' she said. 

'She was filling her water bottle but didn't have the opportunity to steal because staff were at the counter.'

Ms Griggins said some of her staff spotted the woman, including her daughter Abby, but were too scared to approach her. 

'My girls are in their 20s, but didn't feel confident enough to approach her. They did literally stare her down though,' she said. 

'They called me but I couldn't get there quick enough before she left.'

Ms Griggins is yet to contact police about the matter, but plans to file a report after finding out other businesses were affected. 

'She's going out for the day and thinks that's her job, I'm sure of it,' she said. 'Now that we see how many [businesses] she's stolen from, all that money is adding up.'

When asked if there was anything that stood out about the woman, Ms Griggins said she had 'a sort of modus operandi' that was hard to miss.  

'She'll stake [the place] out and then come back, just waiting for the right opportunity,' she said.

'She has a few things she does, like walking around with a water bottle and has a Tommy Jeans black and white bag she uses all the time.

'She only has a couple of outfits, but is mainly wearing black and has a few bags including a shoe bag and a backpack as well.' 

Another business owner told 7News that a tip jar that contained donations to an animal rescue organisation had been taken. 

'Ours was a charity jar, so we donate to 4Paws charity and people put tips in, so there was a fair bit in there,' Jennifer Roch said. 

The woman allegedly also targeted Beefy's Pies and Cafe All Sorts. 

An unblurred picture of her shared on a police social media page sparked a large response, with many calling the woman out for her alleged actions. 

'Should be ashamed of herself, we are all feeling the pinch, but keep your thieving hands to yourself,' one person said.