Local

Woman robbed in shopping center parking lot

Huntersville police are searching for a man who robbed a woman outside a shoe store in the Target Plaza.
They're hoping surveillance pictures and a description from witnesses will help them find the man.

The man started approaching people around 10:30 Monday morning.
One woman told Channel 9 she was leaving Homegoods nearby with her 6-year-old daughter when the man started walking behind her.
He said, "I've got a gun and I'm going to kill you. Get in the car." However, she didn't. Instead, she screamed loudly and took a picture of the man before he ran away.

Police say he then approached a woman outside of the Rack Room shoe store. The woman had two children in her car.
She told us the man said, "Keep your head down and give me your money." She did, and he ran away.

Lt. Kevin Johnston with Huntersville police told us, "We know that he was picked up by a cab driver and taken to Cornelius and dropped off at the intersection of Catawba Avenue and Old Statesville Road."
Police knew he was dropped off there because they said the cab driver was especially alert.
"The cab driver realized that something just wasn't right so he came back and talked to us about it and gave us a real good lead on it," Johnston said.

Now, as police continue to search for the robber, people who frequent this plaza are on alert. "I wouldn't think this area has a high crime rate, so kind of scary," said Caden Cross.
Police say there isn't a lot of crime here. They can't remember the last time something similar happened.

Police say they are now stepping up patrols here and the stores in the plaza are increasing security.