Plain clothes officers had spotted the Border man, who has arrest warrants in Victoria and NSW, in east Wodonga on Wednesday afternoon.

The windscreen on a highway patrol car was cracked and the man was badly cut at some point as he tried to evade officers.

An area bounded by Chapple Street, Spring Avenue, Gralen Street and Glenview Avenue was cordoned off as dozens of police descended.

Acting Sergeant Owen Clarke said the public was not at risk from the man aged in his mid to late 20s.

“There’s no reason to believe he’s armed,” he said.

“There’s no reason to believe he’s any threat to the community.”

However, some residents told The Border Mail they had been told to lock their doors for their own safety.

Others had blood stains dotting their backyards.

Stump grinder Marcel Meunier was walking home with his young daughter when told by police it was believed the man was at his property.

Blood marks were left on his metal back fence.

“The police just said he was wanted on warrants and that was it,” Mr Meunier said.

Another resident said a neighbour had blood on sheets which had been hanging on a clothes line.

It was unclear how the windscreen was smashed and the man injured, but Acting Sergeant Clarke said he may have been cut jumping a fence.

One of the warrants was issued by ​Corrective Services NSW, with other warrants for failing to attend court in Victoria for old matters.

“There is no violence associated with these warrants in Victoria in any way,” Acting Sergeant Clarke said.

“We thought we had him cordoned off and called in additional units, but we were unable to locate him.”

Residents also told of a car being damaged by a police four-wheel-drive and a wad of money being found in Glenview Avenue.

A white Audi station wagon was also removed by tow truck from outside a Chapple Street during the manhunt.