A man was shot in the stomach after police said he chased a thief outside a northwest Atlanta gas station.
The thief swiped a purse from inside the man’s vehicle while he and a woman were putting air in their tires Thursday night, Atlanta police said. The incident happened at the QuikTrip at 1678 Howell Mill Road just before 8 p.m.
The victim was alert at the scene and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital following the shooting, according to police.
Investigators refer to these incidents as slider crimes. They occur when someone leaves their car running or unlocked, allowing someone to slide into the car to steal it or items inside the vehicle.
“It’s a crime of opportunity,” Capt. Jessica Bruce told Channel 2 Action News from the scene.
A woman told officers that she and the victim were using the gas station’s air pump when a man wearing a yellow hoodie ran up to her vehicle and opened the unlocked door, a police spokeswoman said. The suspect stole her purse, which was sitting in the front seat.
The man chased after the suspect but was shot in the process, the spokeswoman said. According to officers at the scene, one person stopped to help the man before authorities arrived, Channel 2 reported.
Investigators were speaking with the good Samaritan and reviewing surveillance footage to get a better description of the suspect.
He drove away in a black Jeep Cherokee along with another man, the female victim said. The vehicle was last seen driving south on Chattahoochee Avenue.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward and are reminding citizens to always lock their vehicles when pumping gas or going inside a gas station.
This isn’t the first incident at the Howell Mill Road QuikTrip.
A Maserati SUV was stolen in September after the owner reportedly left the vehicle running while she went to speak with a friend, “Love and Hip Hop” cast member Alexis Skyy Mcfarland. Thieves took the opportunity to swipe the vehicle, according to a police report obtained by AJC.com.
RELATED: Friend of 'Love and Hip Hop' star has Maserati stolen at Atlanta gas station
The Maserati was ultimately recovered in Buckhead.
MORE: Maserati found in Buckhead after weekend QuikTrip theft
Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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