JOHANNESBURG police have shot and killed a house robber in Cresta, Randburg and are on the hunt for his accomplice after a car chase yesterday afternoon.

Gauteng police spokeswoman Captain Pinky Tsinyane said the man was shot just outside the house after refusing to surrender and shot at officers reacting to the robbery report.

She said police received information about two suspicious men seen fiddling with a gate on the corner of Mountain View and Beyers Naudé Roads at 11am.

Police received a further call from the owner who was inside the house that the men were at the door and were knocking and kicking it.

The men then went to the back of the house where they found a 16-year-old boy.

"They threatened to kill the 16-year-old boy and robbed him of his cellphone and took a plasma television set from the house," said Tsinyane.

She said the robbers found police waiting for them as they walked out of the property. One of them was carrying the stolen television set.

"They were ordered to surrender and lie on the ground but refused. They shot at the officers who returned fire," she said.

"Police shot one of them dead while the other sped away in a getaway vehicle - a Mercedes-Benz.

"As the robber noticed that police were closing in on him he got out the vehicle and fled on foot."

She said police thought they saw him running away with a gun in hand.

The robber was still at large last night.

The public has been warned not to approach the man but call police immediately on 011-888-6291 with relevant information.