A Flowery Branch resident who left her car running at a Buford gas station became the victim of a motor vehicle theft while she went inside the station. 

An officer with the Gwinnett County Police Department responded to the Murphy USA station at 3858 Buford Drive about 3:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, and spoke with the victim, who said she left her vehicle running with the keys inside, along with her iPhone and wallet. 

Witnesses on scene told the officer they saw three young black males in their late teens to early 20s who appeared “sketchy” loitering around the station’s exterior bathrooms. The witnesses said one of the three males got into the running vehicle and left, with the victim chasing behind on foot. The other two males got into a different vehicle and fled. 

The victim’s car was listed as stolen, and the officer advised the victim to have her financial accounts frozen.