A San Francisco man on Tuesday described a terrifying attack that happened in front of his home after a man asking for directions assaulted and robbed him as a neighbor took cell-phone video of the crime in progress.

The attack happened early Monday evening in the Mission Terrace neighborhood near the intersection of Mission and Maynard.

The man, who gave his name simply as Antonio, was arriving home from work when he was approached by a man asking for directions on the residential street.

The suspect suddenly assaulted Antonio, but a quick-thinking neighbor captured the beating with a cell phone.

The video shows a man in dark clothing repeatedly punched the 35-year-old victim, rummaging through his pockets and kicking him before running off.

In limited English, Antonio told KTVU the attack left him nervous and worried about his family's safety.

"I have two sons and my wife," explained Antonio. "[I] never, never had a lot of problems. I lived in SF for 18 years."

Antonio works as a restaurant cook. He showed KTVU the injuries he sustained in the beating.

His forehead was bandaged and he said he needed seven stitches. He also suffered a swollen cheek and a fractured nose.

Antonio said he was sitting in his SUV when the suspect approached and asked for directions. The suspect then struck Antonio in the face.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said she saw the attack and called 911.

"When he locked the door or pull up the window, the guy yanked him from the shirt and started socking him," remembered the neighbor. "I was shocked. I was scared."

Antionio told KTVU he tried to defend himself with a steering lock, but the suspect ran to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door.

Antonio tried to run, but the suspect caught him. After the beating, the suspect stole Antonio’s wallet, which contained $150 in cash and a paycheck.

The witness told KTVU her father is the man seen in the video clip trying to chase the suspect.

Neighbors said they are now being extra careful.

"It's very upsetting. It's very nerve racking, said Janice Corona. It makes you nervous. You don't want to go outside, but you don't want to be freaked out every minute of the day.

Antonio told KTVU he was unable to return to work on Tuesday and might not go back to his job until next week.

The police captain overseeing the district said plainclothes officers are patrolling the area and hope to make an arrest soon.