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The woman — whose identity has not been released — told police she was sleeping at about 5 a.m. at her home in the 7500 block of Dickinson Avenue in College Park, when she woke to find a man sexually assaulting her, said Officer Henry Tippett, a Prince George's County Police Department spokesman.

The woman screamed and startled the suspect, who then fled the residence. The victim did not suffer any major injuries, police said, but she was taken to a hospital for examination. Police are unsure how the suspect got inside the house, which Tippett said is home to the victim and several other residents.

"There doesn't appear to be any sign of forced entry," Tippett said. "It's possible there could've been an unlocked door or window."

Tippett said police are still investigating the incident and are seeking tips from people who may have been nearby at the time of the attack. They are also taking the opportunity to urge residents to lock their doors and windows and turn on exterior lights at night.

"We've had some incidents in the past where sexual assaults have occurred and we've found that doors and windows have been unlocked," Tippett said.

At an Oct. 6 College Park City Council work session, county police said they had received no reported rapes this year in the city to date, compared with four reported rapes in 2008.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Sexual Assault Unit at 301-772-4908.

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.