GRAHAM, N.C. — Graham Police responded to a reported armed robbery that happened outside the Planet Fitness on Main Street early Wednesday morning.
"The victim was parked in the parking lot sitting in their vehicle and they were blocked in by a second vehicle," said Graham police captain Daniel Sisk. "People got out of that car and robbed them at gunpoint and stole their car."
Officers were called to the scene around 1 a.m. Sisk said they're looking the three men who stole the 2014 Ford Mustang with North Carolina license plate LCF-7473.
"In this case, if someone approaches you with a firearm and asks for your car just give them the keys," Sisk said. " It's not worth losing your life over."
The police report states the suspects wore face coverings and arrived in a grey passenger vehicle. After the robbery, the suspects headed eastbound on I-40/I-85 toward Mebane. The grey car was reportedly seen following the stolen Mustang.
Sisk said a robbery of this magnitude has not happened in a long time
But the Main Street Planet Fitness is a hot spot for break-ins.
"We've had multiple car break-ins in that parking lot," Sisk shared. "The last stretch we had we identified who they were and made charges. They were juveniles."
Here are some tips to protect yourself from thieves:
Keep your car doors locked and hide your valuables.
Park in well-lit areas and close to entrances.
lastly, be mindful of your surroundings.
In some instances, you can't avoid the threat but Sisk said technology could help them get your vehicle back.
"There are some things you can buy aftermarket," Sisk said. "Some remote start systems have the tracking capability on it to where you can locate your vehicle from your remote start feature."
As for this incident, Plant fitness said a manager wouldn't be in to speak with us until Monday.
Police said the victim is okay and the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Graham Police Department at 336-570-6711 or Alamance County Crime Stoppers at 336-229-7100.