Hamilton police are searching for three suspects after a group reportedly forced their way into a home overnight while brandishing weapons and stole a safe.

Police say the incident happened around midnight, in the area of First Street North and Avalon Avenue, just east of Centennial Parkway South.

Investigators say three men who had their faces covered forced their way into the home, confronted the people who lived there and demanded a storage safe.

"While inside of the residence the suspects displayed weapons believed to be a firearm and a metal bar believed to be a crow bar," a police news release reads.

One of the suspects assaulted one of the victims with the metal bar, police say. They then grabbed a safe with cash in it and took off.

Police arrived and searched the unit with police dogs, but came up empty.

The person who was assaulted sustained minor injuries, police say, and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Investigators say they believe this was a targeted incident.