SOUTH HOUSTON, Texas -- A teenager was kidnapped and sexually assaulted as she walked home from school, officials told KPRC Local 2 Tuesday.

South Houston police said a 17-year-old South Houston High School student was grabbed in the 3500 block of Shaver Street near Vista Road at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

Officials said she had just left school and was walking to a nearby fast-food restaurant when two men asked her what her name was and pulled her into their car. Police said she tried to avoid them.

The men took the teen behind a Food Town grocery store about a half-mile away. The passenger sexually assaulted her and then the men let her go, officials said. She walked home and her family called police.

The girl said the men, who were in their 30s to 40s, were driving an older-model white Toyota Camry with tan interior and a blue tree deodorizer hanging from the rearview mirror.

She said the driver is missing a front tooth and wore a tan baseball cap. The girl told investigators that the passenger was about 5 feet 9 inches tall and wore a light T-shirt and blue jeans.

Police said the men are Hispanic and spoke Spanish during the attack.

Pasadena Independent School District officials said they let parents know about the attack through an automated telephone message.

Extra security was also at the school to make sure students left safely.

"We're using this as a time to remind our students to be careful, to walk with a group, to not get so involved in their headphones," spokeswoman Candace Ahlfinger said. "The safety of our students is always our first concern. So our officers will also step up security. We monitor the area anyway. We always have a police officer on duty at the school."

Police recommended parents pick up their children from school or encourage them to walk home in groups.

Area residents said they would be more careful when out shopping.

"It is traumatizing because you can't be safe here anymore," Annabelle Espinoza said.

"When I get out of the house I have to look around," Nungh Vo said. "Life is really scary and dangerous."

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.