A 19-year-old woman has been left scarred after escaping a terrifying carjacking ordeal in Melbourne’s west in July.
Jessie was sitting in the passenger seat of her car, waiting for her uncle at an industrial address on Chewton Street in Braybrook at about 6.30am on July 26.
Police say a man, who is unknown to Jessie, got into the driver’s seat and drove off along Chewton Street, Evans Street and Ballarat Road towards Sunshine.
The man was allegedly driving so erratically the woman was unable to jump out of the car until he slowed down along Hampshire Road.
“Going over 100 without a belt on, swerving through cars – I thought I was gonna die,” Jessie said.
“I was really scared, at the time I thought I was being kidnapped.”
“And then I kind of just swung the door all the way open, and stuck my leg out, and said ‘if you don’t stop, I will hop out’.”
Jessie was not physically injured, but said the incident has left her scarred emotionally.
“It’s been hard to sleep, I’ve been put on sleeping medication… and I get flashbacks,” she said.
“[I am] gonna see a psychologist for it, to help me deal with it.”
Police found the car outside a residence on Elphinstone Street in Footscray West two days later.
They have now released video footage and an image of the man they believed may be able to assist with their enquiries.
He is described as Caucasian in appearance, in his early 20s, with a short buzz cut and was wearing a blue and maroon hoodie at the time of the incident.
It’s believed the offender was seen scoping the truck yard and observing the business, days before he made a move on his target.
Anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
