A stand-off involving heavily armed police commandos outside a public housing unit on Canberra's main thoroughfare has ended in a man's surrender and three arrests.

During the four-hour stand-off at the apartments on Northbourne Avenue, dozens of special operations police stood with guns drawn and siege equipment as they negotiated with the man via megaphone.

Police said an aggravated burglary began at 6:00am when three men forcefully entered a unit and threatened those inside.

Officers said two men were arrested shortly afterwards, but a third man fled into another unit.

Police then began negotiations with the man, blocking off the road behind the public housing block in Turner and surrounding the scene with masked police.

Dozens of highly-armed officers stood surrounded the apartments during the four-hour stand-off. ( ABC News: Jake Evans )

Inside, more special forces stood at the door to the apartment block's foyer.

Just after 9:30am police negotiators deployed a remote-controlled unit shortly before the man crawled out on his stomach and was arrested.

There was no indication that anyone else was inside the unit with the man and there were no reported injuries.

The man was taken to ACT watch house and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Police believe the incident to be linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.