Woman in Failsworth park is latest in spate of carjacking victims

The woman, who has asked not to be identified, was walking her two Border Terrier dogs in Higher Memorial Park in Joseph Street, Failsworth, last Thursday.

After parking her silver Mini Paceman, she became suspicious when she saw three youths also entering the park.

Ten minutes later, she returned to her car letting her dogs into the vehicle, when one of three youths ran at her armed with what police say was a “weapon”.

The youth demanded: “Giving me the f****** keys”, but the woman refused. A scuffle then began and she was dragged to the ground.

Thankfully, after screaming for help, two men who had also been walking their dogs, ran to help, prompting the offenders to run away.

The woman sustained cuts to her hands and knees, but was not seriously hurt.

However, she has been left badly traumatised, telling The Manchester Evening News she is too scared to drive.

"I am due to go back to work but I don't want to get back in my car," she said.

"I've not really been out since. I haven't slept or eaten properly."

The three offenders, estimated to be aged about 16, all wore dark clothing and had their hoods up.

During the ordeal, one of the youths also opened one of the doors and dragged the dogs to the ground. They weren't seriously hurt.

GMP confirmed officers were called just before 8.15am to reports of an attempted car theft on Joseph Street in Failsworth.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The incident is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Oldham recently.

Earlier this month, a 79-year-old woman were released was seriously injured when her car was stolen at the Morrisons supermarket in Chadderton.

Then a 30-year-old woman was carjacked at gunpoint at Daisy Nook Country Park in Failsworth.

In November a man in his 50s was stabbed three times in the leg during another carjacking in the car park of the Lidl store in Royton.