Women drivers warned as man strikes

From the archive, first published Saturday 30th Dec 2006.

Lone female drivers have been warned to be on their guard after a man targeted two women in their cars.

One 52-year-old woman was threatened with a carving fork as she sat in her car on the drive of her home in Leeds Road, Shipley, last night.

The woman had just pulled up when the man, who was wearing a combat jacket and black woolly hat, clambered into the front passenger seat.

He threatened to stab her with the fork unless she handed over her handbag. But she screamed and pulled the bag away from him and he fled on foot up Leeds Road.

The incident happened shortly before 10.30pm three hours after the same man attacked another woman.

The 27-year-old victim had parked her car outside her home in the Long Lee area of Keighley, shortly after 7pm, when a man wearing a combat jacket and black balaclava got in the front passenger seat and demanded her keys. He ran off when she screamed.

Neither victim was injured but Detective Inspector Peter Craig, of Keighley CID, warned: "We have to be concerned there may be a man who is willing to use force against lone females.

"The advice we would give to people in the Bradford district is that if you are driving alone you should ensure your doors are locked, even upon returning to your home address, and make sure nobody is in the locality when you park on your drive."

Det Insp Craig appealed for anyone who had seen the man approaching the two women, or leaving the scenes, or knew anyone fitting his description, to contact the Keighley Police help desk on (01535) 617059, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The suspect in the Shipley incident was white, in his early 20s, with ginger-blond curly hair protruding from the woolly hat. He was of medium build but had broad shoulders, a pockmarked face and pale complexion and was wearing dark clothing.