A Serbian prisoner who was having his weekend release, was caught red-handed after he robbed the house of the prison governor.

Alija Cerimi, who was serving time in jail, was given a temporary liberty during the weekend. But instead of spending it with his family, he decided to rob a house belonging to the prison governor.

He was caught on his return to the prison when the governor spotted his own watch on the convict's wrist.

It was reported that Cerimi stole jewelry, a watch and a mobile phone from the unnamed governor's house in the northern Serbian town of Sremska Mitrovica.

Witnesses said the governor saw the prisoner walking inside the prison and waving a shiny silver watch and shouted, "That's mine, you thieving bastard."

The convict reportedly laughed and then held up the governor's mobile phone which he had also stolen, before being restrained by guards.