The aggravated burglary occurred on Hertford Street just after 11.30pm, when three men gained entry to a home by using a jimmy bar to break through a front window.

They woke two men who were asleep in the house, and a brief argument began.

Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Troy Wickham said the three intruders were looking for another man, who did not live at the address.

“A short argument ensued, before one of the men hit one of the home’s occupants over the head with the jimmy bar,” he said. “The victim received lacerations to his forehead.”

Detective Wickham said the offenders fled the scene in an early-90s model silver Toyota Camry sedan.

The victims described one man as about 170cm tall and with a stocky build.

The man had a distinctive sleeve tattoo on his right arm, with another tattoo – a word written in black block letters – on his left forearm. He had short brown hair  and was wearing a red and brown striped tank top.

The offenders are estimated to be in their 20s.

Call the Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit on 

5336 6080 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.