A 72-year-old man was hit in the face with a sledgehammer by masked robbers who forced their way into his home, police said.
The pensioner opened the back door of his home in Jaywick, Essex, after he heard noises in an alleyway just before midnight on Wednesday.
He was confronted by three men who forced their way inside and hit him in the face with the sledgehammer, police said.
They added that the elderly man was able to fight back and the robbers made off after taking his only wallet.
He was taken to hospital suffering from head injuries where he remains in a stable condition, police said.
Two men, aged 18 and 25, have been arrested in suspicion of aggravated burglary following the incident.
They were also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with an assault in Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, which left a man with neck injuries.
The 18-year-old man, of Clacton, Essex, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries until January 10, 2015.
The 25-year-old man, of Hammersmith, west London, remains in custody.
Anyone with information can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
