Man seriously injured after confronting burglar

Hamilton Police investigating the stabbing of a man at his home early this morning are urging people not to put themselves at risk when confronting an intruder but to seek help at the earliest opportunity.

Detective Sergeant Ricky Thompson of the Hamilton CIB said emergency services were called to a Saxbys Rd address about 1.30am.

"Initial indications on what has occurred are that our 31-year-old male victim, who was home by himself at the time, had been having a smoke out the back of his house when he has heard a disturbance out the front.

"Our victim has gone to investigate the noise and come around the corner to find a man attempting to force entry into the front door of his home."

Mr Thompson said when the victim confronted the stranger, the offender has slashed his arm with a weapon which was believed to be a knife and stabbed the man in the abdomen before fleeing.

"Our victim suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

"A scene examination was completed today and we are working to establish the identity of the offender responsible for this attack which is unusual in its degree of seriousness."

The offender was described as a Maori or Polynesian male about 165cm tall, of skinny build aged in his late teens or early twenties.

"From a policing perspective we are viewing this incident as very serious and we would ask that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of Saxbys Rd at the time of the attack to contact Hamilton Police.

"At the same time I would I would like to urge people not to confront offenders, if at all possible place yourself at a safe distance from any potential attacker to allow you to be able to raise the alarm by ringing 111."

Anyone with any information on this morning's attack is asked to contact Mr Thompson at the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 858 6200. Alternatively information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.