An elderly woman was taken to hospital in Macau after being “frightened” by a humanoid robot that abruptly appeared behind her before it was escorted away by police, prompting social media users to joke it had been “arrested”.

According to authorities, the woman, who was on her phone at the time, was startled when she suddenly noticed the robot behind her near the Lok Yeung Fa Yuen residential complex in Patane last Thursday.

Video circulating online shows the woman angrily confronting the robot before two officers arrive. One officer is seen placing a hand on the robot’s shoulder as they escort it away.

The woman was sent to hospital despite not being injured. She was later discharged and did not pursue the matter.

As news of the encounter circulated online, some social media users joked the robot had been “arrested”.

The robot reportedly belongs to an education centre in Macau that had been using it for promotional activities.

Police told the media the robot was returned to its operator nearby, a local man in his 50s, who was reminded to exercise caution.