A 59-YEAR-OLD woman was punched in the face during a violent carjacking in Belfast in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The PSNI have today appealed to the public for information in identifying and tracing the attacker, who fled the scene, smashing into a police vehicle before abandoning the stolen car and escaping on foot.
The carjacking took place in the Norglen Parade area of West Belfast.
Detective Inspector Jenna Fitzpatrick said in a statement this afternoon:
At around 4am a 59-year-old woman was removing items from a silver Vauxhall Astra when she was approached by an unknown male.
This male spoke to her briefly before punching her in the face and taking her car keys.The male then made off in the vehicle in the direction of the Springfield Road.
A police pursuit driver followed the stolen Astra from Stockmans Lane on to Brittons Parade, where the hijacker repeatedly reversed into the police vehicle and fled.
The stolen car was later found abandoned in the Whiterock area, and is being examined by investigators.
Police at Woodbourne PSNI station are appealing for any information that might identify the hijacker, and are asking the public to call 101 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.
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