Melbourne man run over by own Jeep

A Melbourne man has been run over by his own car, trying to stop a thief from stealing it from his driveway.

The 47-year-old man awoke to a noise in his Sunbury home just after 4am on Tuesday and found a man trying to start up his Jeep Cherokee.

He tried to open the driver's side door but the offender continued to drive, causing the man to fall under the car and get run over by the rear driver's side wheel.

He suffered serious injuries including broken ribs, a fractured femur and leg wounds.

The white jeep was later spotted in Woodend where it side swiped a vehicle travelling the opposite way before it was dumped in Macedon about 7am.

The offender is described as in his mid-to-late 20s with a solid build and dark hair.

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the white Jeep that morning or has dash cam footage of the vehicle.