An alleged motorcycle thief suffered instant karma when he fell through the roof of a school - leaving him stuck with his legs dangling.

The suspect, 24, and accomplices reportedly tried to steal the vehicle from a resident's home in West Java, at around 10:30 pm on February 12.

When the homeowner found them and screamed for help, the alleged thief clambered onto the rooftop of a nearby school. However, he plunged through the wooden ceiling boards while running.

Footage shows the man with his legs dangling through the ceiling, as furious residents below struck his legs with a piece of wood. He was later arrested by police and kept in a cell at the station.

Police Commissioner Luthfi Olot Gigantara, head of the Bandung Regency Police criminal investigation unit, said: 'Regarding the news of a man hanging from the ceiling, we inform the public that the person concerned is one of the perpetrators of a crime.

'He was arrested by members of the Cileunyi Police with the help of the community.

'When carrying out the alleged theft in Cileunyi, this suspect ran away to the top of an elementary school and finally got trapped when he fell through the ceiling.'

The police boss added that the suspect, who they have the initials FN, was a repeat offender, who had reportedly stolen another motorbike in the Pangandaran Regency before.

Police said they were tracking down the whereabouts of the other suspects.