Police warn drivers to be aware of surroundings after car is stolen

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - The holidays are here and the roads are packed. During this busy holiday travel season, police are warning drivers to be aware of their surroundings.

Thursday morning a woman was getting gas at an Exxon station on North Druid Hills Road when someone snuck up, opened the passenger side door and snatched her purse.  But the crook didn't stop there, police say he came back and took her car.  "When she realized her purse was stolen she went inside to see if the clerk had anything on surveillance video, when she came out she noticed someone had jumped in her car and went down the interstate," says Brookhaven Police Lt. Kevin Patton.

Wysheria Heard says she stops at the same gas station often.  She says from now on she's keeping her purse over her shoulder. "I'm not leaving my purse in the car any more, it's scary," says Heard.

Rose Sweet says she tries to be cautious, but she can understand how something like this can happen. "People are usually rushing when they're getting gas, on the phone, not paying attention," says Sweet.

Police say this should serve as a warning to all drivers, because there have been cases like this before, and it will likely happen again. "Anytime you're at the gas pumps you need to keep your head on a swivel and always look around, don't assume since your vehicle is within a foot of you it's safe," says Lt. Patton.