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Woman Attacked By Intruder In Lowell Home

LOWELL (CBS) – A 36-year-old mother of three was attacked in her own home Wednesday morning.

Neighbors say Brenda Finch had just returned from dropping off her 4-year-old daughter for her first day of preschool.

"She had noticed one of the windows was open in the house. She wasn't quite sure what had happened. She was on the cellphone with her friend. She walked upstairs to see if there was anything in the house that was missing," says Lowell Police Captain Kelly Richardson.

WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports

That's when the attacker, who was hiding inside, snuck up on her. "He came from behind," says neighbor and friend Hank Wais ."He says, 'Don't look at me. Don't look at me or I'll kill you.'"

"What do you do?" asks another neighbor, Robin Young. "Do you go in or do you fight him off? What do you do?"

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mary Blake reports

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The man hit her with an object he'd grabbed in the home, and ran. Police later found some of the Finch family's belongings nearby, which he'd apparently tried to steal, but dumped during his getaway.

Another person was hurt in the attack. Two friends happened to be approaching the home for a visit as the attacker was leaving. He threw a cellphone at one woman's face. Her injuries were not serious.

Brenda Finch went to Lowell General Hospital with scratches and wounds on her head. She's back home now, where a Lowell Police cruiser is watching guard in front of her house.

Anybody with information is asked to call the Lowell Police Department at 978-937-3200.

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