SoCal girl, 13, fights off predator after break-in

MAYWOOD, Calif. -- A 13-year-old girl sleeping in her own bed was attacked by a suspect who family members say broke in through a window of their home.

The incident occurred early Wednesday morning at a residence in Maywood, southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The victim's father says the suspect got into the house through a kitchen window, made his way through the home and found the girl's bedroom.

The suspect entered the room and grabbed the sleeping girl by the leg. The girl woke up and put up a struggle.

The teen told her father that the man put his hand on her mouth and told her to "shut up and don't say anything." That's when she started kicking and screaming. Fortunately, the girl was not hurt.

The suspect fled before family members could get a good look at him. They did say he didn't appear to be armed.

"Thank God he didn't have a weapon or something. Otherwise, who knows?" the girl's father said.

The girl's family is understandably on edge and wants to get the word out to area residents that this suspect is at large.

The incident is under investigation. The victim's father said sheriff's officials told him that this was the third similar attack in the Maywood area.