A man ended up in hospital Thursday after three men forced their way into his central Hamilton home with a knife and attacked him with his own bear spray, police say.

It happened just before 10:30 p.m., police say, at a home on Barton Street East near John Street North.

Three men – one of whom was shirtless – barged inside the home, and once inside threatened the man who lived there with a knife, police say. The suspects grabbed a small amount of cash, a cell phone and a can of bear spray.

On the way out, the suspects added insult to injury and attacked the man with his own bear spray, police say. He was later treated for minor injuries in hospital.

Police believe the attack was targeted. The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made.