A man who tried to intervene in a service station break-in was hit with an axe after having fled to his car, while two men have been arrested over the assault and the burglary in Nightcliff on Thursday afternoon, NT Police said.

NT government crime marketing manager Sita Bacher said in a statement that about 1.20pm Thursday police were told about a man attempting to use a hammer to smash a window of an unspecified service station in the suburb.

She said that when a 54-year-old man, who was passing by, tried to stop the break-in, another man turned up armed with an axe.

“The male returned to his vehicle to retreat, before the offenders smashed a window of his vehicle and struck the male with an axe causing a laceration to his shoulder,” she said.

“The offender returned to the service station and smashed a window, gaining entry and stealing several small items before leaving the scene.”

Ms Bacher said the victim was treated at the Royal Darwin Hospital for minor injuries, while Strike Force Trident detectives arrested an 18-year-old man and a 28-year-old man. who police expect to be charged on Friday.