The woman, 45, was alone in her vehicle while exiting a parking lot in the area of 106 Avenue and 102 Street around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. It was reported that three male strangers, believed to be in their early 20s, approached her vehicle and opened the car doors. The woman was allegedly pulled out of the vehicle from the driver seat before the three men – whose faces were hidden behind scarves – jumped in the vehicle and drove away.
The vehicle is described as a grey four-door, 2006 Ford Freestyle, plate HUX 341. Although traumatized, the driver was not physically injured.
The incident is the second theft of vehicle using violence in three days; however the two are not believed to be related.
“We see a lot of stolen vehicles throughout the year, but very few carjackings,” says Downtown Division Acting Staff Sgt. Michael Hickey. “When a life is put at risk during the process of a crime, the stakes increase dramatically, and the criminal consequence jumps from theft to robbery.”
The first incident was reported on Tuesday, Jan. 28, after a vehicle was stolen at gunpoint in a west end retail parking lot near 170 Street and 99 Avenue. The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, in his mid-20, with short brown hair, between 5’8” and 5’10” in height, stocky build, wearing a black jacket with grey hoodie, blue jeans, and white running shoes. He is believed to be in possession of a black handgun and should not be approached.
Anyone who has information about either incident is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.