Robbers seen running up victim's credit card at Galleria Mall, HPD alleges

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A woman footed the bill for a group's Galleria Mall shopping spree but didn't do it out of generosity or the holiday spirit. It happened after she was shocked with a Taser and robbed.

The Houston Police Department said four men played a role in the Taser-point robbery, committed when the victim was sitting in her vehicle.

"He looked like 17. No older than 19 years old. So, I couldn't believe a kid was attacking me like that," the 25-year-old victim, who asked to remain anonymous for her safety, told ABC13.

According to HPD's Robbery Division, two of the men were seen on camera swooping in on the woman at about 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the 5300 block of Kirby Drive at Bissonnet.

HPD released the dramatic video on Thursday.

One of the men opened the woman's driver's side door and stunned the victim before grabbing her purse, police said. Somehow, the Taser did not slow her down. She fought back and ran after them.

"In that moment, I didn't feel like I was Tased. I had so much adrenaline, so much fight in me, that I was just fighting him back but right after, my whole arm was red and my whole body was sore," she said.

The two suspects returned to a waiting gray four-door sedan, taking off from the commercial parking lot.

The victim believes the group may have followed her from a bank about a mile down Kirby before they struck.

The group then wasted little time to cash in on the spoils of their crime.

Police said they ran up charges on the victim's credit cards at a fast-food restaurant and numerous stores within the Galleria Mall, including a Foot Locker and a Burberry, where more cameras captured them. HPD connected the individuals when they used the woman's cards that Tuesday afternoon.

The victim said she is so traumatized now, she does not leave her home by herself.

"I need them to be caught. This needs to be stopped. They need to learn their lesson, and they need to find God. They need to find a better thing to do, a job. They need to find something because it's not okay to hurt people. They should not hurt innocent people. We all work hard for our things. Nobody deserves this," she said.

Police described the suspects all as Black males. They were wearing the following:

• Suspect No. 1: Blue hoodie, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes;
• Suspect No. 2: Blue and white jacket, with light-colored, torn jeans;
• Suspect No. 3: Black/white hoodie and gray jeans;
• Suspect No. 4: Black hoodie and gray pants.

If you recognize any of the individuals or the vehicle, you're urged to Crime Stoppers of Houston directly if you have any information related to this investigation. Information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any felony suspects may result in a cash payment of up to $5,000. Tipsters must contact Crime Stoppers directly to remain anonymous and to be considered for a cash payment by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitting an online tip at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.

What ABC13's Neighborhood Safety Tracker shows

The alleged stun-gun holdup unfolded in an area that includes Southampton, the Rice University area, Shadow Lawn, and Broad Acres.

The area, home to 19,000 people, reported 15 robberies in the last 12 months. However, the ABC13 Neighborhood Safety Tracker shows a decline in holdups from 2019 through 2022.

• 2019: 25.
• 2020: 20.
• 2021: 18.
• 2022: 13.

You can look up Houston crime numbers in your neighborhood here.