Car thief knocks 74-year-old woman to the ground during attempted carjacking

Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information after a pensioner was knocked to the ground during an attempted carjacking.

Officers want to speak to a man involved in the incident, with a clear photo showing the thief attempting to steal the 74-year-old woman’s Mercedes.

Luckily the woman was not hurt during the incident, although she was left shaken.

The pensioner was driving down Cranleigh Avenue in Heaton Moor yesterday when her car was hit by another vehicle at around 5.40pm, police say.

gmpolice / Twitter

When the woman got out of her car the male passenger of the other vehicle attempted to steal her keys, with the victim ‘fending off the male’ until she was knocked to the floor.

The man grabbed her keys and tried to drive off in her car, but neighbours heard the disturbance and ‘deterred the male’, with the thief returning to his car and driving off towards Mauldeth Road with his accomplices.

Police have made no arrests so far and the incident is being treated as a robbery.

GMP Stockport posted on Facebook, saying: “Police are appealing for information following a robbery in Heaton Moor, Stockport.

“On Monday 17th May 2021 at approximately 5:40pm the victim, a 74 year old female was driving along Cranleigh Avenue in Heaton Moor when her vehicle was struck by another car.

“The victim exited her car and spoke with a male passenger from the vehicle which had struck her car, at this point the male attempted to take the victim’s car keys.

“The victim attempted to fend the male off, however she was knocked to the floor where the keys were then snatched from her. The male then attempted to drive the victim’s car away, it’s believed neighbours deterred the male and he ran back to the vehicle he and his accomplices were in, they then drove off towards Mauldeth Road.

“Thankfully the victim was not injured during this incident. No arrests have yet been made at this time and enquiries are ongoing.”

Greater Manchester Police / Facebook

Police Constable Jack Gregory, of GMP’s Stockport Division, added: “This was an awful attack on a lady going about her daily business, the victim was targeted by these males and subjected to an assault in an attempt to take her car.

“I would encourage anyone with information about this incident, whether you saw something, have CCTV or recognise the person in the below image to contact the police.”

Anyone with any information or who recognises the person in the photo is asked to call the police on 101 or 0161 856 9829 quoting incident 2139 of 17/05/2021, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.