HOUSTON – Houston police are searching for the man they said attacked a woman in the Baybrook Mall parking lot.
It happened late Friday, according to HPD.
Detectives said a 24-year-old woman, who works at the Baybrook Mall, was in her car and about to leave when a man driving a tan-colored vehicle pulled up next to her.
Records indicated the man was waving his arms as if he needed help and when the woman opened her door, the suspect attacked.
Police said he implied he had a gun and forced her in his car.
Police said the man drove to an undisclosed location nearby, sexually assaulted her and then let her go near the Texas Art Supply store on the backside of the mall.
At that point, the woman was able to flag down someone driving by and they called police.
"I normally don't come to the store by myself; I always look for somebody like my mom or a friend to come with me," said mall shopper Diana Moreno.
Moreno said she also ignores people like the suspect because she does not want to become a victim herself.
Police have not released a description of the attacker.
Meanwhile, the mall released a statement Monday:
"The safety and security of our shoppers and employees is our number one priority at Baybrook Mall. We are working closely with local law enforcement to assist in any way we can."
Investigators are checking to see if any security cameras may have recorded anything to help them track down the suspect.