Adelaide home ransacked despite roller shutters, screen door and alarm installed for security

A roller shutter was ripped from a back window and the front security screen door was also bent as an intruder used a crow bar to break into an Adelaide home.

Rooms inside Charles Mackles home of nearly 20 years in Elizabeth East were ransacked in the early hours of Boxing Day, while he was away on the Eyre Peninsula with family for Christmas.

"[I've] got an alarm, shutters, security door - if they want to get in they'll get in," Mackle told 9News.

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The suspect collected valuables including a laptop and several electric guitars.

"Desperate times I think," he said. "I don't know whether he's on drugs or just too lazy to get a job."

"We've got no power, we've got no alarm."

The home's alarm system was triggered just after 2am with the suspect damaging the fuse box as he desperately tried to silence the alarm - even ripping the alarm panel from the wall.

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"I just heard the alarm goes off for like a few minutes, I didn't know it was someone breaking inside," neighbour Mohamed Kerasi told 9News.

But authorities were just moments away and police dog Chaos found the suspect hiding in the laundry.

A 33-year-old man who was already on bail was arrested at the scene.

The local man has been charged with criminal trespass and for the damage at Mackle's home.

He will front court on Wednesday.