Carjack warning to women

Women drivers are being urged to be extra vigilant after a violent carjacker struck at his victim's front door.

A 40-year-old woman was punched repeatedly in the face as she walked the few yards from her car to her home after a trip to the supermarket.

Scotland Yard warned women to remain in their car if they think that anyone is acting suspiciously. The alert comes after a number of similar attacks in which women driving alone were targeted as they left their cars.

The latest victim was severely beaten when she was ambushed on her doorstep in Dulwich Village. The woman refused to hand over the keys to her grey Audi A3 sports car.

The man punched her to the ground, snatched the keys and drove off. The assault left the terrified victim with two black eyes and stitches to her lip. The woman, who is too afraid to give her name, said today: "I had been to the supermarket to do some shopping. When I came home I parked the car outside the house.

"I came to the front door and I was going back to the car to unload it when this guy came up behind me. I didn't see him, he trapped me against the door and asked me for my car keys.

"I just didn't know what was happening. I didn't realise I was in a violent situation. I said 'no, they are my car keys' and he started to beat me.

"I didn't realise he was trying to steal my car until he started hitting me." After falling to the ground, she put her arms up around her head to protect herself. She said: "I was shouting as he was hitting me. My neighbours heard me and they came out.

"Somebody went to call the police. By that stage he had got the keys and he was on his way. I was in total shock and stunned by the whole thing. If I had realised he was going to be violent, I would have given him my car keys. I suppose in some respects I am very lucky. He could have been even more violent. I am lucky my neighbours were there."

The suspect is described as black, 5ft 10ins tall, aged about 25, and described as stocky. He may have been wearing a cravat.

The woman was taken to hospital but allowed home later. Police said that after the attack in Aysgarth Road, on Friday night, the carjacker made off towards Dulwich Village with the lights off.

Police issued an appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious and also issued a plea to second hand car dealers and mechanics to look out for the sports car with the registration T27 1RGP.

Police estimate the number of carjacking is now running at about 1,200 a year, although they have made a number of major arrests of alleged gangs.

One of the most alarming cases involved the nanny of Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, who was violently attacked as she arrived at the family home in Queen's Park in January.

The stolen car, a three-yearold VW Golf, was recovered in Maida Vale 11 days later.

Company director Gloria Hamilton, 41, was punched unconscious by carjackers in Charlton who then drove off in her £50,000 Mercedes.

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