A woman was shaken but not seriously injured after surprising a burglar in her home in the 3000 block of Airport Road at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.
The intruder, wearing a dark ski mask, sweatshirt and pants, confronted the woman and, after a short struggle, the victim sprayed her assailant with mace.
She then locked herself in another room and called 911. The burglar left on foot.
Officers and detectives responded to the incident, which is under investigation.
The victim was taken to Carson-Tahoe Hospital where she was treated and released.
The assailant is described as a white male adult, 6 feet tall and weighing about 230 pounds.
The neighborhood was canvassed, but turned up nothing. Anyone seeing any suspicious activity in that area between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff Department's detective division.
"A lot of people travel that route at that time of day, and hopefully someone saw something," said Carson City Sheriff's Department spokesman Scott Burau. "Anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary is asked to call and let us screen those issues."
The Carson City Sheriff's Detective Division can be reached at 887-2020, extension 1400. Those calling after hours should contact the department's communications center at 887-2007.