Hijackings Raise PSNI Concern

Concerns have been raised following a significant number of carjackings in the Belfast area.

Senior PSNI officer, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, is responding to the fact that two more cars have been hijacked creating a total of 10 cars having been hijacked in the last fortnight in Belfast.

Yesterday on the Lisburn Road, a man ordered a woman passenger from a car. She refused and as the man drove away, passers-by helped stop the vehicle.

Four hours later, at 21.15, three men forced a woman to hand over her car keys in Donegall Street. They drove off and 15 minutes later the car was found crashed and abandoned in Norglen Parade.

This news follows an incident that occurred on Friday, last when a woman was parking her car in John Street area at 07.30. A man wearing a hooded top approached the car opened the door and ordered her to get out. A struggled ensued and the woman got out following this the man then drove of in the car at high speed.

Meanwhile early last week police dismissed claims that four previous carjackings are connected.

All four incidents happened in the Belfast City area and all the victims were women. All four cars were found burnt out in the Divis and Grosvenor areas of West Belfast.

Ms Gillespie said she fully understood why some motorists may feel "vulnerable" when out driving alone.

"I do not underestimate the impact of these incidents on those people involved, but it is important to highlight that despite these recently reported carjackings, the likelihood of becoming a victim of this type of crime is slim," she said.

"We have increased our resources in the city centre and have implemented a comprehensive pro-active police operation to prevent these crimes taking place, investigate, detect and arrest those responsible and put them before the courts."

(LB/GK)