An employee of a local heat treating company was attacked with a metal bar after he caught three suspects inside his place of work on Sunday.

Police responded around 9 p.m. to Winston Heat Treating, located at 711 E. Second St. on a breaking and entering complaint. The 37-year-old employee told police he was the only person working when he suddenly came across two men and a woman inside his business, according to a police report obtained Monday.

When confronted, one suspect -- described as black, between 45 and 50 years old, 5-feet-9-inches tall and roughly 200 pounds -- said they were looking for a bathroom. He then said, "I'm not leaving until I find something of value to take," according to the report.

The employee told officers at that point he said he would call police and the man picked up a metal bar that was about 3 feet in length and hit him with it.

He said he was struck in the right hand, and then he wrestled the bar away from the man. All three suspects then fled, according to the report, and left in an older-model Chevrolet Chevette. The color of the vehicle was either maroon or dark red, according to the man.

Nothing was reported missing at the time of the report. The employee denied medical treatment for his hand.