Two people who pulled over to change their car’s flat tire were robbed at gunpoint and stowed in the car trunk early this morning in Palm Beach Gardens, police said.

The incident is believed to be related to a recent series of armed carjacking and robberies that have occurred throughout the county, Palm Beach Gardens Police spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said.

At about 4:22 a.m., the 36-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were headed south on MacArthur Boulevard when their car had a flat near Howell L. Watkins Middle School, Lovejoy said.

As they attempted to change the tire, two men approached with guns and took a purse, a wallet and their car keys. They then ordered the pair into the trunk and left. The man and woman were able to escape by pulling the emergency release lever inside the trunk, Lovejoy said.

A relative identified the man as George Davila. Davila was taken to the hospital to get stitches for a gash on his head, his brother, Paul Davila, said.

Davila’s companion was not injured, according to a police report.

Palm Beach Gardens officers and K-9 units conducted a search of the area, but did not locate the suspects.

Local authorities have been investigating a rash of robberies that have typically occurred between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

The suspects’ standard method of operation has been to bump the back of the victims’ vehicles, then rob the victims as those persons would get out to check for damage.

Anyone with information about this  robbery is asked to contact Agent Randall Anderson or Agent Andrew Tallichet of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department at (561) 799-4544, or (561) 799-4547. If you’d like to stay anonymous and be eligible for up to $1,000 REWARD call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477) or text tips to tips@cspbc.com