A robber was shot dead and another was wounded in a shootout with police in Centurion, Pretoria police said on Thursday.

Inspector Aveline Hardaker said police received a complaint of a housebreaking in progress in Monument Park at noon.

"The task team members also received a lookout by a member of [the] public of a suspicious vehicle with five men inside," she said.

"One of the men was allegedly seen cocking his firearm," said Hardaker.

Police found the car in Highveld, where two of the men were breaking the gate of a house.

When the men saw the police, they jumped back into the car and a chase ensued in which there was an exchange of shots. Several items were also thrown out of the car along the way.

Picking up thrown items

"A member of the public saw [another] vehicle picking up the items," Hardaker said.

She said a robber was shot dead and another was seriously wounded in the shooting. The other three other men were arrested and taken to the Lyttelton police station.

Stolen laptops, a camera, jewellery and bank cards were found in the car. No firearms were recovered.

Hardaker said the men had been linked to house robberies in Monument Park and Zwartkop.

"The police are investigating the possibility of a bigger gang and a possible link to other house robbery cases," said Hardaker.