West Midlands Police has asked for the public’s help after a mum who was out shopping with her young daughter was attacked by carjackers who were armed with an axe at Morrisons in Castle Bromwich.
The 35-year-old had just parked her BMW and had got out of her car when four masked men, one of whom was carrying the axe, demanded her keys.
One of the masked thieves snatched the keys from her hand and pushed her to the floor. The incident occurred yesterday (2 October) at around 7.10 pm.
Three of the men got into the woman’s car and drove it away, hitting a kerb near the front of the shop and then speeding out of the car park.
The fourth man sped off in the car that the gang arrived in, believed to be a silver estate.
West Midlands Police are trying to trace both of the vehicles, and have released an image of the woman’s car.
The victim’s 12-year-old daughter saw what happened as she returned to the car with a trolley.
West Midlands Police have thanked members of the public who came to comfort the victims, who were left shaken but with no visible injuries.
Witnesses described the robbers as having dark skin, wearing black clothing with snood-type face coverings. They had local accents.
CCTV is being recovered, and several witness statements were taken, but detectives also keen to hear from anyone with dash-cam footage.
DC Kerrie Galloway, from Force CID, said:
“This was a terrifying, intimidating attack by four men who could clearly see that the victim and her young daughter were alone.
“Not only did the victim’s daughter witness their car being stolen but she also had to see her mother being pushed to the floor with one of the offenders having an axe.
“I urge the members of the public who witnessed this incident and bravely came to the aid of the victims to contact us, any further information in relation to the car that the offenders arrived in, their identity and any sighting of the victim’s stolen car would be greatly appreciated along with any dash-cam or recordings of the incident.”
Anyone with any information should contact West Midlands Police quoting ref 20SH/239043F/20
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