A 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after a masked man punched, pushed and cut her during a home invasion in the 58000-block of Mason Street in Penn Township.

The victim told officers she left her front door unlocked around 4:00 p.m. after letting her dogs out. She then went inside and was sitting at her kitchen table when a man wearing a mask or nylon stockings walked in.

The man reportedly threw the woman to the ground, punched her several times in the face and used a knife or razor to cut her face just below her eye. He then stole an undisclosed amount of cash and threatened to come back and kill the woman if she called police. About 45 minutes later, the victim's daughter called to check-in and then called police when her mother told her what had happened.

"It's scary. My heart is racing right now. I'm scared about what's going to happen. Who did this? Why would they do this?" said Karin Schafer, who lives down the street.

Schafer and others who were home at the time, told police they didn't hear or see anything suspicious.

"I've got two dogs and they go crazy if somebody just walks down the street and they didn't bark today, they've been quiet," said Schafer.

Police are not releasing the victim's name to protect her safety however neighbor said she was well-liked.

"She's really nice. She was a really nice lady. Whenever she saw you outside she'd always wave at you she always smiled," said neighbor Ashlee Rorie.

Police questioned several neighbors and canvassed the area.

"It's personal. We all have children, we all have mothers and fathers and grandparents and it's a sensitive area," said Sheriff Mike Grzegorek. "People who attack children and old people, what else are they? They're cowards and for someone to come into an elderly lady's home and assault her in this way, to steal money, in my opinion is a coward and I hope if someone out there has information they call us and let us know so we can get this guy locked up."

The suspect was described as a male, approximately 5'8" with a skinny build. He was wearing a brown winter coat with the hood pulled up over his head and blue jeans. He also wore a mask or nylon stockings over his face.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.