Vic police probe motive for fatal burglary

Police are investigating whether a thief who broke into a woman's home before dying during an altercation with her neighbour was carrying out a random burglary.

The 44-year-old broke into the home in Frankston on Friday and assaulted a woman inside.

Police have refused to confirm how he died, but it happened in the backyard after a neighbour intervened.

Homicide detectives are trying to work out why the burglar decided to target the house of the 33-year-old woman, who was taken to hospital with head injuries.

"Investigators have been able to confirm that the deceased man never resided at the address and there is no known association between the current resident and the deceased," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

She said it was possible that it was a random burglary.