A man sleeping at home in east Hamilton woke up in the worst kind of way Wednesday morning – to a stranger in his bedroom ransacking his home, police say.

The incident happened just before 3:30 a.m. at a home on Wilson Street near Chestnut Avenue.

The homeowner "immediately detained" him, police say, before calling for help.

When officers got there, the man "attempted to intentionally mislead the officers about the reasons for his presence," a police news release reads.

Const. Steve Welton said he couldn't say what the man told police, but did say the man "indicated he wasn't there to steal property."

That story fell flat when the officers found the man had concealed stolen property on him, and had also piled some of the homeowner's goods next to a door.

"For reasons unknown, people make incomprehensible decisions while engaged in the process of crime," Welton said.

Police are now investigating the possibility that the man might be involved in other break and enters around the city.

The man has been arrested and charged with a number or property-related offences.