A YOUNG boy had a lucky escape after the car he was sitting in was hijacked.
The 12-year-old’s ordeal happened at around 3.40pm on Friday in the O’Hagan Street area of Newry.
The boy’s mother had left the keys in the ignition while she popped into Dunnes Stores on Hill Street.
As he waited in the back seat of the car for his mum to return, a man jumped into the driver’s seat and started the car.
He then shouted at the boy to get out before taking off in the vehicle.
Ryan Haughian of Roxy Shoe Repair saw the events unfold.
“I heard a really loud screeching of tyres,” he said.
“The next thing I knew, a silver Mercedes came to an abrupt halt just outside our shop and I saw a wee lad jump out of the back passenger door.
“He was in an awful state, he was crying and shaking and didn’t know what to do.
“People stopped to comfort him and when he told them what happened someone phoned the police.
“A couple of men also stopped a teenager from leaving the area – I think they thought he might have been involved, acting as a lookout or something.
“They kept him there until the police arrived and questioned him.
“When the wee boy’s mum came back and realised what had happened she was badly shook up and upset.”
The Mercedes car was later found in the Meigh village area.
Detectives are appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to contact them by calling 0845 600 8000.
Alternatively anonymous information can be given to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.