State police at the Frackville barracks said a burglar who attempted to break into a Girardville home at 11:40 p.m. Dec. 16 punched the victim in the nose before fleeing the scene.

Police said a 22-year-old man in the 300 block of Preston Avenue detected a forced entry attempt occurring at the back door of his residence. Police said as the suspect was forcing the door open, Schwalm applied counterforce from inside the home to prevent further entry, at which time the burglar reached through the opening in the door and punched the victim in the nose.Police said the man fled the scene through the back yard of the property.Schwalm was transported to the Pottsville Hospital in the Girardville Community Ambulance. He was treated and released.