A Hamilton man ended up in hospital with serious injuries early Monday after he confronted three men who were creeping around in his backyard.

Another area resident says he had chased the thieves into the yard after he saw them trying to break into his truck.

Officers were first called to a home in the area of Upper Gage Avenue and Brucedale Avenue around 2:30 a.m., after the resident approached the three men.

According to police, there was a confrontation where the man ended up with lacerations from a sharp object – "possibly a solar light stake" that had been ripped out of the ground, police say.

The suspects ran away before police got there, and the 48-year-old victim was taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.

Police say the suspects were also involved with several vehicle break ins just before the incident.

A man who lives in the area told CBC News that he someone breaking in to his truck while the others were busy with his neighbours' vehicles.

"One guy was actually inside of my truck when I was about to leave for work around 2:30 a.m.," he said, asking that his name not be used as no arrests have yet been made.

" I pressed the panic button on the key for my truck and that spooked him, and at that point he went running and so did the two other men who were inside my neighbours' cars at the same time."

The resident then quickly got dressed and jumped in his truck and started to chase after the men. He said he spotted them on Upper Gage Avenue.

"I tried to drive right into them on Upper Gage on the sidewalk, but that's when they ran into that guy's back yard," he said. "I was going to any lengths to catch these bastards, I'm sick of this stuff happening where I live."

"Enough is enough. Something has to be done."

Officers are currently searching for three men in their 20s. Police are asking anyone whose car was broken into in the area to call it in.