LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - A purported Pakistani burglar who crept into a village home to steal was caught red-handed and had both arms severed at the elbow by his would-be victims, police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened overnight after Muhammad Tufail, 34, entered a house in Chak Nangar village near the town of Dera Ghazi Khan, 405 kilometres south-west of Islamabad, local police official Muhammad Ayub said.

"The four male family members present in the house severed both Tufail's arms at the elbow," he said.

Police have arrested two of the accused and the two others have fled, he said.

"One of the culprits in police custody did confirm that they severed Tufail's arms in a fit of anger because he had snuck into their house intending to burgle."

He said police were called following a complaint from neighbours.

Tufail was taken to a local hospital and is in a stable condition.