Mum chases after thief who tried to steal car as she was sat in it with her son
Watch the shocking moment a brave mother raced after a masked ‘carjacker’ who tried to break into her BMW as she was sat inside with her young child.
Kerry Chapman, 39, was watching videos with her 12-year-old son in Bolton, Greater Manchester, when the thug tried to drag her out of the vehicle.
She initially thought it was a friend playing a prank on her, before clocking on it was something much more serious.
The assailant was wearing a balaclava and is believed to be part of a group of four men who were out that evening.
Luckily, Kerry sustained very minor injuries, however she is concerned of the psychological impact the ordeal will have on her son, Aston.
Aston had followed his mum and also tried to catch the masked man.
‘They tried to drag me out, but I just ran and chased them, and they ran off,’ Kerry said.
‘My son ran out the car also, as you can see on the CCTV, to help me chase them and make sure I was OK.
‘I will never get that image of the balaclavas out of my head, and it has damaged me for life.
‘It scared me because I couldn’t see anything.
‘I heard this noise, and when I realised there were these lads with balaclavas, I got out of my car and chased them.
‘All I did was protect my son but I could have got myself injured.
‘I wanted them to get away from my son.’
Kerry says she is still in a state of shock by what has happened and has been left with bruises on her arm.
She said: ‘It’s not hit me that it’s happened because I can still see masks.
‘I am still coming to terms with it. I have tried to block it out for my son’s sake.
‘I am on pins thinking I am a target because I don’t know why it happened.’
She says that she has been concerned over incidents of burglaries, anti-social behaviour, and car thefts after moving to the area three years ago.
She said: ‘It’s getting worse, and it’s a different place now.
‘I don’t feel safe even walking the dog during the day or around Bromley Cross.
‘I am very jumpy now.’
Ward councillor Cllr Nadim Muslim says that he is ‘shocked’ by Kerry’s ordeal and has urged residents to report any crimes to the police.
He said: ‘It’s shocking what happened to the woman, and I am glad she is OK.
‘It’s just a reminder to make sure that residents report any crime to Greater Manchester Police directly, so they can make more targeted approaches.
‘If there are any anti-social behaviour issues the council will work with GMP to tackle that and see if there is anything we can do.’
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made and enquiries remain ongoing.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘On March 29, officers were called to reports of an attempted carjacking on Clay Street, Bromley Cross.
‘It has been established that an unknown man attempted to drag the victim out of her vehicle before making off on foot.
‘No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
‘Enquiries are ongoing.’
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