Man attacked inside Fort Walton Beach home

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WALA) - The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is looking for two home invasion suspects. Deputies said Robert Hastings was attacked inside his home on Willow Grove Lane on September 29.

Eric Bowman makes his living doing odd jobs in that same community, where he lives.  An early riser, bike rides in the wee hours of the morning are common for Bowman. 

But Saturday, he returned from his ride to a crime scene. 

Hastings, his neighbor right across the street, had become the victim of an attempted home invasion robbery. 

Bowman spoke to him just after the incident.

“He’s pretty shaken up," Bowman said.  They stayed away from the house for a couple days.  Then they had police come and check it out a couple times before they moved back in, but they’re going to beef up the house, get security in, stuff like that.”

Deputies said Hastings awoke to a loud bang and found two men inside his home.  One- armed with a semi-automatic handgun- placed the barrel of the weapon against his head, demanding money.

According to the sheriff’s office, when the suspects didn’t get any money from Hastings, they struck him on the left side of his face.  Fearing for his life, Hastings acted unconscious so they would leave him alone.

Deputies said the men didn’t take anything, but left Hastings with a laceration on his cheek.

Noticing a trend of these crimes, FOX10 News asked the sheriff’s office for the numbers on home invasions. 

Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Michele Nicholson says there have been four in Okaloosa County this year, down from more than a dozen in 2011.

“You have the sanctity of your home, obviously, that you like to think that you don’t have to worry about someone barging in- especially armed with a weapon, trying to take your possessions- but it does happen.  We try and tell people make sure and keep your doors locked, and if you don’t know the individual that’s on the other side of your door, never open your door to anyone," Nicholson said.

For the latest victims of this type of crime, it’s time for one neighborhood to rally together.

“I think with the economy the way it is, and a little bit of what’s going on around the world, people are getting a little but more aggressive with a lot of things that they’re doing," Bowman said.  "It’s a little scary, but we’ll keep watching each other, taking care of everybody.”

If you have any information on this crime, contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at (850) 651-7400.