Portland police are searching for a suspect who sprayed a man with pepper spray after being confronted while breaking into a car.

Police say a couple was walking their dog on Spring Street at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when they spotted a man going through the woman’s car at 271 Spring St. She went inside to call police and her boyfriend confronted the man, police said.

The burglar at first insisted the Chevrolet Impala was his, then sprayed the other man and ran off.

The man is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, white, with dark hair and scruffy facial hair, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

The thief made off with about $1 in change, police said.