Pensioner screams for help as she fights off car jacker

A TEENAGER has told how she looked on in horror as a man tried to drag a pensioner from her car in broad daylight.

She watched as the would be car jacker flung open the door of the Peugeot 207 and struggled with its 60-year-old driver as she was sitting stationary in a Leith car park.

He tried to grab the terrified woman's keys as she screamed for help, but fled after her sister heard the cries and ran towards them.

The 17-year-old eyewitness, who was visiting a friend at the Citadel Court block of flats, saw the attack across the road in Admiralty Street around 4:50pm on Tuesday.

She said: "The woman was sitting in a newish blue Peugeot 207 when I was coming back from the shops. I'm not sure if she had just pulled in or was leaving.

"The guy got the door open and she started screaming for help.

"I think he was trying to steal the keys, because I heard her shouting something about keys.

"I couldn't see if anyone got hit but I could see them struggling. I've never seen anything like it before."

Police said the suspect demanded that the woman get out of the car, but that she bravely fought him off.

Officers say they are currently unaware of any other incident in the area, where the suspect may have been involved and needed a getaway car.

Detective Constable Richie Creanor, who is leading the investigation based at Gayfield police station, said: "The woman was sitting in her car when she was approached by a man who has opened the vehicle door and tried to snatch the keys.

"The woman very bravely fought him off and the suspect has tried to remove her from the car. He threatened her but she refused to leave the vehicle. At that time, another car has come into the street and the suspect has walked off.

"We're also keen to speak to a teenage girl walking a dog who approached the woman after the incident. She may have been a witness and we would like her to come forward.

"This was an unprovoked attack on a 60-year-old woman who has been left badly shaken by the incident."

He added that door-to-door inquiries were being carried out, as well as checks of CCTV cameras in the vicinity.

The suspect is described as white, 25-30 years old, between 5ft 7in and 5ft 8in tall with a slim build and short dark hair that was shaved on the side. He was clean-shaven and was wearing a white T-shirt and navy tracksuit bottoms.