The burglars' accomplice ran away.

An suspected burglar was shot dead when he apparently tried to break into a police officer's house in Florida Avenue, Eldorado Park, on Tuesday morning, Johannesburg metro police said.

"An off-duty metro police officer shot and killed the male suspect who was climbing through the officers' laundry room window," said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

He said the officer had woken up to sounds in his house at 3am.

While climbing through the window, the suspected burglar was shot once and died at the scene, Minnaar said.

The burglars' accomplice ran away.

Minnaar said police found a screw driver and a crowbar at the scene.