Jeopardy's Alex Trebek Chases Burglar

How did one of America's most beloved game show hosts end up on crutches?

"The answer is, at 2:30 yesterday morning, chasing a burglar down the hall," Alex Trebek said.

Jeopardy host Trebek and his wife, Jean, were sound asleep at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis when they awoke in the middle of the night and realized someone was in their room.

Trebek says he jumped out of bed, threw on his underwear, and chased the burglar down the seventh floor hallway.

As the 71-year-old heroically ran after the intruder, he heard a snap.

"My achilles tendon ruptured and I then fell ignominiously on the carpet, bruising the other leg in the process," Trebek said.

Despite his injury, Trebek made his scheduled appearance at the National Geographic World Championship, with the help of crutches.

Hotel security apprehended 56-year-old Lucinda Moyers. How she could have managed to get into Trebek's hotel room in the wee hours of the morning is still a mystery.  

"It could be that they have a key, it could be that they have some kind of electronic device," Lt. Roy Dangerfield said.

Moyers, who lives in San Francisco, has a long rap sheet of previous burglary convictions, but denies she was in Trebek's hotel room. She told a local TV station she was only arrested "Because of my record. Maybe because it was Alex Trebek."

Trebek's wallet and his wife's purse were recovered near the seventh floor ice machine.  

Still missing is the silver bracelet he wore when he accepted a lifetime achievement award at the Daytime Emmy awards.

The bracelet was a gift from his mother that he's worn since he began hosting Jeopardy in 1984.  

Now Trebek's courageous pursuit is the talk of the nation.

Trebek is expected to undergo surgery Friday, and will be in a cast for roughly six weeks.