Quick reaction drives bad guys away

It was just about 10:30 p.m. on March 27 when a woman arrived at a parking lot in the 5900 block of Hopkins Road to meet a friend. She parked in a space and waited.

After a few minutes, she noticed two people walking toward her car. One of them, a black man, came to her car window and asked to use her cell phone. She refused, and the man punched her in the face.

Then he tried to reach through the window to grab her keys from the car's ignition. But even after being struck, the victim had the presence of mind to put the car into reverse and hit the gas. Both the suspects ran away. She didn't get a good look at the second suspect.

Anyone with information about this crime should call police at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660, or text the code tip699 with the tip and send to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also visit www.crimesolvers.net to report information anonymously online.

In other crimes:

Cornerstone Boulevard. Between 5 p.m. on March 24 and 2 p.m. on March 26, someone cut the padlock off of a storage shed at Cornerstone Baptist Church in the 6100 block and stole property.

East Boundary Road. Between 4:30 p.m. on March 27 and 10:50 a.m. on March 28, someone broke into a heating and air conditioning business in the 13500 block and stole money from a cash box.

Genito Road. Just after 12:30 a.m. on March 29, someone stole the driver-side airbag from a tow truck parked at Smarts Towing in the 12900 block.

Hopkins Road. Between 5 p.m. on March 28 and 5 p.m. on March 29, someone entered a residence in the 6700 block through an unlocked window and stole firearms and other property.

Kingsland Road. Between midnight on March 1 and 7 p.m. on March 30, someone broke into a shed and barn at a home in the 3400 block, breaking windows, vandalizing the interior of both structures and stealing property from the shed.

Rosebay Forest Drive. Between 2:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on March 30, someone entered a residence in the 15000 block through the unlocked front door, ransacked and vandalized the interior of the home, and stole money and other property.

Southlake Court. Between 3 p.m. on March 21 and 8 a.m. on March 24, someone broke into Munson & Zevon Dog Grooming in the 10900 block and stole the cash register from the reception area.

Swale Lane. Between 6 p.m. on March 1 and 1:30 a.m. on March 29, someone stole firearms from an unlocked truck parked in the driveway of a home in the 13600 block.

Trade Road. Between 8:30 p.m. on March 26 and 7 a.m. on March 27, someone stole four tires from an SUV parked in the lot at Mosaic Tile Company in the 10900 block at Southport Industrial Park.

Turner Road. Between 2 a.m. on Oct. 15 last year and 4:30 p.m. on March 27, someone stole lawn equipment from an outdoor storage shed at the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in the 4500 block.

W. Hundred Road. Between 5 p.m. on March 25 and 8:30 a.m. on March 26, someone took apart an exterior light fixture at AAAA Self Storage in the 2000 block, and broke into the office by kicking in a side door, which damaged the door frame. Money was stolen from a cash drawer in the office.