Cops: Woman stops for flat; robbed, punched

A 32-year-old woman reported that she was robbed by a man who punched her in the face several times and snatched her pocketbook after she got out of her car to check on her tire in Farmingdale early Monday, Nassau police said.

The victim, who was treated at a hospital for contusions on her face, said she had pulled over to check whether she had a flat tire at Garfield Avenue and Heisser Lane at 3 a.m. when someone in a black two-door Honda Accord yelled out to her, "Hey, Mommy! Do you need some help?"

When she replied, "No," the car pulled up in front of her and a man got out and pressed a hard object against her head, police said, and demanded she turn over her pocketbook.

When she reached into the car and retrieved the item, he grabbed it, punched her several times about the face and drove off, police said.

The victim ran to a nearby home and dialed 911, police said. She could not provide more details about her attacker or the vehicle.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the robbery to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

All callers will remain anonymous.