Police in Australia engaged in a seven hour standoff only to discover the home they were outside of was empty. Officers responded to "information regarding a person of interest" in an ongoing investigation at 9:30 a.m. and decided to enter the home at 4:30 p.m. after receiving no response. Photo by Carl Ballou/Shutterstock

MELBOURNE, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Australian police were left baffled and embarrassed after participating in a seven hour standoff outside of an empty home.

Police responded to the home in a city west of Melbourne at 9:30 a.m. after receiving "information regarding a person of interest" in an ongoing investigation, a police spokeswoman told The Age.


Critical Incident Response Team members said they were negotiating with a man who refused to leave the house and eventually decided to enter the residence.

"After no response from the property the house was entered and cleared about 4:30 p.m. and no occupants were located inside," the spokeswoman told ABC News.

The surrounding streets were blocked off and a nearby school was placed under lockdown during the standoff.

Police also seized a vehicle and motorcycle from the home which they believed were stolen.

No word was given on the potential whereabouts of the suspect as the spokeswoman said the investigating was ongoing and "it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."