A 25-year-old burglar was caught red-handed and arrested inside a house in the Cullinan area on Saturday.

Police spokesman Johannes Jaftha said on Sunday that two men broke into the house in Rayton at 7.30pm, while the owners were away on holiday.

He said one of them sneaked inside while his accomplice stood guard outside.

Jaftha said the thugs ran out of luck when the security alarm sounded.

"The guards responded quickly and the cops went to the house as they were also alerted," he said.

"The other suspect ran away when he saw the security and cop cars coming.

"But his partner-in-crime was bust while still inside the house," added Jaftha.

The officer said nothing was stolen from the house and the suspect may be linked to other burglaries that had recently been committed in the area.

The suspect was expected to appear in the Cullinan Magistrate's Court soon on a charge of burglary.

His accomplice was still at large.