Lawrence police officer Jon Barta searches a field behind a home in the 400 block of Eldridge Street about 10:30 a.m. Thursday. A woman arrived home and found her front door open and saw a man in one of the windows. Police didn’t find anyone inside.

Lawrence police on Thursday were searching for a man who was inside a woman’s house in northwest Lawrence when she came home.

Sgt. Bill Cory, a police spokesman, said the woman called officers about 10:30 a.m. when she found her front door open and saw a man in one of the windows. The residence is in the 400 block of Eldridge Street.

While waiting for police, the woman thought she heard the back door open. Officers entered the home and discovered the sliding door was open. They didn’t find anyone inside.

Cory said the woman described the suspect as a white man, possibly in his 20s with a little bit of facial hair. He was wearing a shirt that appeared to be white or gray or both colors.

Police were talking with people in the neighborhood who might have seen someone matching that description.

Cory said the woman did the right thing when she saw something suspicious.

“If you see somebody in your house, and you don’t recognize them, it’s best if you have a cell phone or go to the neighbor’s house and call police,” he said.

Police reported the man took $159 and gift certificates from the house.