Woman fights 3 armed men who try to carjack her; they take off without her vehicle. Still, police say 'do not fight back' against robbers — especially armed ones.

After a 39-year-old woman successfully fought off three men armed with guns who tried to carjack her last week in Streetsboro, Ohio, police warned "do not fight back" against robbers, especially when they're armed, WEWS-TV reported.

What are the details?

The woman pulled into the Plaza shopping center's parking lot around 1 p.m. Tuesday and parked her car, when another vehicle drove up behind her, the station said.

As the woman exited her vehicle, three men armed with guns got out of their vehicle, approached her, took her keys, and got into her vehicle, police told WEWS.

But the woman climbed into her car's back seat, after which a struggle ensued, the station said.

Soon all of the men exited her car and took off, police told WEWS, adding that the woman sustained a minor injury and a description of the robbers wasn't provided.

'Do not fight back'

After the attempted carjacking, police issued a warning to crime victims.

"We are glad that she is OK, but we would recommend that people do not fight back with people who are attempting to rob them — particularly if they are armed," police told the station. "Their safety is more important than any of their possessions. We are thankful the victim is safe and wanted to use this time to remind everyone of some valuable safety tips. And.... before anyone says it, these tips are not directed at our victim or a specific response to anything that happened on Tuesday. This terrible crime can and does happen anywhere."

Police then offered some tips, WEWS reported:

• Be aware of your surroundings, if you think someone is following you in your car, call 911 and drive to the police station. If you can't get there, go to the busiest store, restaurant, or business you can find. If someone is following you on foot, call 911, change direction, and head to the busiest place you can see.
• Keep your eyes up. We use our cell phones all of the time, and they are a huge distraction from what is happening around you or who is around you.
• Use a parking space you can pull through for an easy exit or back in.

Officials are investigating whether the attempted carjacking is related to similar robberies in Cuyahoga Falls and Solon, the station said, adding that those with information about Tuesday's incident can call Det. Fogleman at 330-626-4976 or email jfogleman@streetsboropolice.com.

Anything else?

The do-not-fight-back message from police isn't unique to Streetsboro. After a robbery victim aboard a Chicago train last month stabbed to death a 15-year-old male who pulled a gun on him, Chicago Transit Authority vice president of security Kevin Ryan told WBBM-TV that crime victims fighting back isn't wise: "What the Chicago police will tell you to do — do not fight back. Be compliant. Do not put yourself in harm's way further."