Woman robbed after getting flat tire

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say an overnight robbery in a parking lot could be linked to others.

Ashley Moran had a flat tire on Shepherd near Alabama around 4:50am. Moran tells Eyewitness News she was driving down South Shepherd when her tire blew out. She pulled into the parking lot at Trader Joe's and called for help.

She pulled into a parking lot to call her dad for help when she says four men came running at her from across the street with guns, knives and bats.

Moran says, "They came at me with bats knives and guns and decided to assault me."

They took her backpack with some schoolwork, purse and phone.

She adds, "Pretty much all they wanted was cash and I had no cash on me."

During daylight hours the intersection is a busy shopping area.

Shannon Burke says, "I moved here from Canada and that really worries me. I'm not used to that at all, even people having access to guns."

Shopper Parker Madill is visiting Houston from Hawaii, "I would feel more for my wife going out at night, I wouldn't want her out on her own."

Shoppers were relieved to hear Ashley is OK, one customer adding, "I just feel for people like that, what can you do."

The victim describes how she tried fighting back, "I took a hold of their windshield wiper and they told me they'd kill me." Now she just wants them caught.

Police believe the suspects are responsible for three other robberies in the area. Anyone who may know who they are should call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.