Local

Disturbing trend of gas station 'slider crimes' alarms community

ATLANTA — "Sliding” is a method police said many crooks are using to steal from people while they’re pumping gas.

A slider thief recently dragged a woman with her own car as he stole it from a northwest Atlanta gas station, according to Atlanta police.

It's the latest incident at a BP gas station on Chattahoochee Avenue last Tuesday around 11 p.m.

When the victim realized what was happening, she went back in the car to tell the criminal to get out. Surveillance video shows the man driving away with her car while the she was still hanging on.

Police said the accomplices got away in a four-door champagne gold SUV.

Another recent victim told Channel 2 Action News she feels thieves are getting bolder.

"It's still happening. It wasn't an isolated incident," said the woman who did not want to be identified.

There's been at least one victim of theft at the same gas station every month since January.

"They've gotten away with it for so long. All it's going to do is escalate," she said.

Channel 2's Matt Johnson dug into the crime statistics for the nearest gas station, a QuikTrip on Howell Mill Road.

TRENDING STORIES:

The station has had 26 car related thefts so far this year, or about three a month.

"Officers in all the zones conduct directed patrols in those areas," said Officer Stephanie Brown of the Atlanta Police Department.

Brown said thieves will strike within seconds and that everyone needs to be aware of that.

"This type of crime would decrease significantly if we locked our car doors and kept our keys in our pockets," Brown said.

The victim Channel 2 Action News spoke with said the thieves were able to steal her purse, but now she's more vigilant and she travels lighter.

"If it happens again they can have everything, but at least they have less of the things I need," she said.

The woman who was dragged was taken to the hospital, but police said she is recovering.

The manager at BP told Johnson to contact the corporate office, but as of Monday, he has yet to hear back.