The simians allegedly broke into the home in Talalla, in southern Sri Lanka, while the residents were working in the garden.

They wreaked havoc in a bedroom, with belongings scattered across the room – but only jewellery was found to be missing.

The stolen jewellery included a gold chain, three pendants and three rings, Sri Lankan website Newswire reports.

Some of the jewellery was later recovered, having been found abandoned on the roof of a neighbour’s house.