JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Police arrested seven people in connection with a weekend break-in at Johannesburg's police chief's home, sparking criticism over such swift action compared with that experienced by ordinary South Africans.

South Africa is one of the world's most dangerous countries outside war zones. Frequent government campaigns over the last decade and pledges to put more police on the street have done little to control high rates of murder, theft and other crimes.

Local radio said as many as 20 squad cars attended the scene at provincial police commissioner Mzwandile Petros's home, and SAPA news agency said Monday officers rounded up suspects in raids on houses on the outskirts of Pretoria.

"Some were arrested for the possession of stolen property. The police found various plasma screens and electrical equipment in their possession," police Brigadier Neville Malila said.

"One was possibly identified as the plasma screen taken from the commissioner's house."

Petros was not in when the burglary took place around 7 pm (1700 GMT) Friday, although his wife and children were.

Thieves also targeted the home of disgraced former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi over the weekend, taking a television, laptop computer and foreign coins.

(Reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Louise Ireland)