Another technique would-be assailants use is to approach a woman who just got into her car, tap on the window, wave some money and say, "You dropped this." When she rolls down the window to express her gratitude and take the bill, he makes his move.
Some guy, with very bad drugged-looking eyes, did something similar to me -- tapped on my window just as I had gotten in my car, motioned for me to roll down the window.
But I knew better than to roll down my window, and my first move every single time I get in my car is to automatically lock the doors, so they were already locked. I don't wait for the automatic lock to work when the engine gets going.
This is a terrible story for this young woman. And in the middle of the afternoon too.