Police shot and wounded a man who stole a city-owned heavy equipment machine in Southern California, authorities said.

Officers responded Monday afternoon following reports that someone had taken a skip loader near downtown Bakersfield, said police Sgt. Robert Pair.

The man then fled from the loader to an older red Nissan pickup and that’s when two officers opened fire, Pair said.

The suspect, who was not identified, was struck once and hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to Bakersfield Now.

Police didn’t immediately say what prompted the shooting or whether the suspect was armed. The incident is under investigation.

The officers were wearing body cameras and there were multiple witnesses, the news station reported.

A skip loader is used in construction to move heavy materials like rocks or debris.