A man walked into an unlocked Sherman Oaks home Friday and struck a women in the home before he took off with her cell phone. He was arrested shortly after the attack.
The home invasion was reported at midnight at 5501 Willis Ave., said Lt. Francis Boteng of the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station.
Rick Gallavan said he was hanging pictures in his office at the front of his home when he heard his wife screaming from a back bedroom.
"She was running up the hallway to me, blood was streaming down her face," Gallavan said. "He just rushed her and started slamming her. She’s got a big shiner and gash under her eye because she wore glasses and he smashed her in the face."
Gallavan said he attempted to call 911 and get his wife out of the house when the suspect appeared in the doorway. The two exchanged words but Gallavan said the suspect ran when he saw Gallavan was holding a hammer.
"At that same moment the police helicopter flew over where he was," Gallavan said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said it set up a perimeter in the neighborhood and within minutes police had the suspect in custody.
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They believed an unlocked back door is likely how the man got inside.
Gallavan said he had always felt safe in his home but has a reminder for people hoping to prevent similar attacks.
"Make sure your (obscenity) windows and doors are locked," he said.
The man is facing charges for home invasion and assault, police said.
