Most people typically let their guard down while pumping gas. This makes it an ideal spot for dangerous criminals to stalk. The moment someone gets distracted or stops paying attention, they strike.

Just recently, a woman at a gas station almost had her car stolen. The prospective car thief was filmed by security cameras sneaking into her vehicle moments after she steps out. The heart-racing video shows him trying to drive away, but she jumps on the windshield, blocking his view. Frustrated, he grabs her purse and flees.

According to video surveillance, the victim, Melissa Smith got out of her car and walked over to remove the pump from her gas tank after filling up. Since there lots of people around and it was broad daylight, she felt safe enough to leave her door unlocked with the keys inside. She quickly realized she made a huge mistake. When she got to the pump, a black Cadillac pulled up and an unknown male suspect got out. He then crouched low and snuck inside her vehicle.

When Smith turned around, she noticed that someone was in her car and sprang into action. “This is not happening to me today,” she recalled thinking as she ran towards the carjacker, who immediately slammed the door shut and locked it. Thinking quickly, she leaped onto the hood, which blocked his view, and began shouting. “I jumped on top and held on for dear life,” she said while being interviewed about the incident, adding, “he laughed at me the entire time, so [he had] zero remorse.”

The thief tried to get her off by accelerating and immediately slamming on the brakes but failed. Despite two separate attempts to shake her off, she refused to let go. Defeated, he grabbed her purse, which contained her wallet and phone, and bailed. The car, which he left in “drive,” continued to roll on without him.

At that moment she was faced with a decision. She either had to stop her automobile from crashing into something or chase after her wallet and phone. Ultimately, she decided to stop her vehicle and scrambled to put the gear shifter into the “park” position.

“I had the thought in my head, do I go after my purse, or do I stop my car and the price tag of my car flashed through my head,” she told reporters, explaining why she chose to stay with her vehicle. “I had to chase my car into the street and stop it before it hit somebody else,” she added. After she got it to stop moving, she dropped down in the middle of the street and started crying, clearly shaken. The suspect is still at large.

Unfortunately, crimes at gas stations are not uncommon. However, they don’t always work out for the criminal, especially when their victim is armed. For example, earlier this year, a gunman approached two men sitting at a pump in broad daylight and aimed his weapon at them. The driver, who was also armed, got out and opened fire, striking and killing the thug.

If Smith had a gun, she could’ve kept both her car and her personal belongings. This is because she would have been justified in shooting him the moment he got in her car and given her reaction, if she was armed, there’s no doubt that she would have shot him.

But since she didn’t have a weapon, a dangerous criminal managed to escape. By driving with her on the hood of the car, he demonstrated that he was willing to harm others to get what he wanted. This suggests that he will likely prey on more vulnerable people in the future. Hopefully, police manage to track him down and arrest him before he takes advantage of others.

It’s important that people remember to remain vigilant while pumping gas. Don’t ever keep your keys in the car or leave your doors unlocked. Unbeknownst to you, there may be a desperate criminal nearby waiting for the perfect moment.