A woman was reportedly driven at during a spate of crimes related to Ford Fiestas in Gateshead.
The 38-year-old woman and her family heard somebody trying to break into her Ford Fiesta ST on Renforth Close in Felling at around 3am. She said they chased them away before they could steal anything but she had to pay hundreds of pounds to fix the broken lock.
The woman, who does not wish to be identified, said she tried to flag down a car on the street for help during the incident on July 11. However it continued to drive at her, forcing her to jump out of the way
She said she then realised that those in the vehicle must have been responsible.
They later discovered that Ford Fiestas on Redgrave Close and Split Crow Road had been stolen and another Ford Fiesta on Ovett Gardens had been broken into on the same day.
The woman, who has mobility issues, said: "My mam heard them trying the car. She went 'What are you doing with the car'. They must have ran off.
"We went outside and there was a car up the street with its lights running. It wasn't until I walked up and I tried to flag them down, and it was going at me at speed, that I realised that's them.
"At the time I was livid - they tried to drive at me. I was more annoyed at that than anything.
"Now I'm thinking about whether I should keep my car or sell it. To me it's not just a vehicle, it's something I have worked hard for, it's mine. I don't think anybody else should take that from me. That's a lifeline I use to get out."
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "An investigation is ongoing following a series of recent vehicle-related crimes in the Gateshead area. We understand and recognise the impact that this type of criminality can have on not only victims and their families, but also the wider community.
"As a result, we are carrying out a range of enquiries and are prepared to use every tactic available to us in order to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. As ever, we’d ask residents to continue to be our eyes and ears in the local community and report any crimes or suspicious activity to us, so that we can take effective action."
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