Man barges into Granada Hills home, sexually assaults housekeeper

GRANADA HILLS, LOS ANGELES -- A search is underway for a sexual assault suspect who barged into a Granada Hills home and tried to kiss a housekeeper.

Los Angeles police received a burglary call at a home in the 16800 block of San Jose Street at around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived on scene, the housekeeper told them she had been sexually assaulted.

The homeowner, Alice Gratias, said the victim has been her housekeeper for 30 years.

Gratias, who was not home at the time of the incident, said her housekeeper told her that the suspect knocked on the door and identified himself as "Kevin." When the housekeeper opened the door, the man pushed his way in, cornered her against a wall and tried to kiss her.

The housekeeper, who is in her 60s, fought off the suspect by kicking him in the groin, Gratias said. That's when the man fled the scene.

Area residents say the incident has them on alert, and they will be careful to lock their doors and close their windows.

A description of the suspect was not available. Authorities said the victim was shaken up but otherwise OK.

Though the initial report came in as a burglary call, investigators do not believe anything was taken from the home.