Woman dragged by car in busy southeast Charlotte parking lot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A woman was dragged by a vehicle Thursday afternoon in a southeast Charlotte shopping center when she met up with several people who, she thought, were there to buy her cellphone.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she used the OfferUp app to meet someone who wanted to buy her phone.

She arrived at the parking lot of Burlington Coat Factory parking lot at the corner of East Independence Boulevard and Sardis Road North and there was a car waiting, occupied by a female driver and about three or four other people.

The victim approached the vehicle and the driver stayed in the car, along with the others.

"I knew what my gut was saying, and I didn't trust it,” the victim said. “That's where I went wrong."

The driver asked the victim if she could see the phone.

“(I) didn't give it to her and showed it to her from a distance, and the next thing you know, she jumped through the window and grabbed it viciously," the woman said.

[Safe exchange zones created in wake of baseball player's shooting]

The victim held on to their door tightly when the driver sped off.

"They went even faster, and they did a complete left swerve and I fell off," the woman said.

She finally let go and fell to the ground and only had small cuts and bruises.

"Just always trust your gut,” the victim said. “You always have to. If it seems weird, more than likely it is."

Safe exchange sones are now open at the following QuikTrip locations: