This is the moment an alleged serial burglar was caught red-handed by two off-duty Guardia Civil officers in Sevilla.

CCTV footage shows the moment the suspect entered a parked black car that was not his in the town of Alcala del Rio.

Moments later, a plain-clothed officer is seen opening the door and dragging the suspect out and restraining him on the ground.

The man is believed to have committed at least three burglaries at homes and two thefts from vehicles.

Residents were reportedly inside two of the properties when they were targeted.

The arrest came after one of the Guardia Civil officers was walking through the town while off duty and noticed a person behaving suspiciously.

He decided to discreetly follow the suspect and eventually caught him red-handed inside the parked vehicle, apparently stealing items from it.

The officer detained the suspect before calling a colleague for assistance – another off-duty Guardia Civil officer based at the Alcala del Rio station whom he had said goodbye to just minutes earlier.

The pair then requested support from on-duty units.

The incidents, combined with other similar crimes reported in Alcala del Rio over previous days, had caused considerable concern among residents.

Investigators believe the suspect would climb into homes and target items that could be easily resold on the black market, including televisions, games consoles, jewellery and tools.

When targeting cars parked on the street, he allegedly tested their door handles and entered vehicles which had been left unlocked.

Police recovered numerous stolen items, which have since been returned to their owners.

The Guardia Civil said its investigation remains open and officers have not ruled out linking the suspect to further burglaries and thefts in the town.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.