An alleged robber was shot and wounded when a homeowner caught him and two other men trying to break into his house in Kibler Park, Johannesburg police said on Thursday.

"The man was asleep in his house at 1.45am on Wednesday when he heard some strange noise. He went to inspect and saw three men on his premises," Inspector Nokulunga Mahonga said.

One of the men then threw "an object" at the homeowner and ran at him, prompting the owner to open fire. His alleged accomplices fled the scene.

The wounded man was under police guard in hospital. A crowbar he allegedly used to try and break into the house was confiscated.