A brave grandmother who punched an accused car thief in the head after he allegedly tried to steal a car with her young grandson still in it has spoken out about the ordeal for the first time.
Soumaya Zakari, 63, was sitting inside a luxury 4WD Range Rover with her six-month-old granddaughter when a man allegedly tried to steal the car, after her daughter-in-law entered a post office in Laverton, south-west of Melbourne. . last week.
What the brazen opportunist didn’t know was that there was no way the sensible grandmother was going to let someone steal her daughter-in-law’s car or, more importantly, her granddaughter.
She repeatedly shouted ‘What are you doing here?’ at the would-be car thief and then punched him.
“I was screaming but he still wanted to steal the car, so I punched him,” Zakari said. nine news.
“I’m scared, but I’m not a chicken.”
Zakari also revealed that it was the first time he had hit someone.
Her daughter-in-law Tamara Afaneh said her daughter had just fallen asleep when the alleged incident occurred.
Grandma hero Soumaya Zakari (pictured) hit the alleged thief in the head when he was allegedly trying to steal the car while she and her granddaughter were still inside.
Her daughter-in-law Tamara Afaneh (pictured left) said her daughter had just fallen asleep when the alleged attempted carjacking unfolded.
She was very grateful that her mother-in-law could fight the man.
“It’s very sick. I’m remembering it over and over again. Imagine he took the car. What would happen if he hurt her or killed her?” Afaneh said.
Mrs Zakari said she will never let her granddaughter, who bears her name, out of her sight.
“I love her so much,” said the proud grandmother of 11.
The would-be thief was later arrested and charged by police for allegedly taking part in a savage crime spree in the area.
The driver of the getaway vehicle, which was allegedly stolen, was captured on CCTV dancing to rap music as he sped off.
Australian Post employee Leanne praised the quick-thinking grandmother as a “hero”.
“Lucky Grandma was there,” Leanne said. nine news.
‘Good for her.
‘She thought quickly and did what she had to do to protect her grandson.
“They just don’t care, they think they can do whatever they want and get away with it.”
Police alleged three men were responsible for several armed robberies and aggravated robberies in the area over three days last week.
A blue Ford Falcon was allegedly stolen in Point Cook a week ago, on June 19, while the victims were at home.
A suspected car thief (pictured) met his match when he allegedly tried to steal a 4×4 with a baby in the back seat.
Would-be thief (pictured) punched in the face by protective grandmother
Three men wearing high-visibility jackets allegedly broke into another home and stole jewellery, laptops and bank cards which were then used at a petrol station.
Three men aged 22, 22 and 21 were subsequently arrested in Broadmeadows, 27 kilometers north-east of Laverton.
Each of them was charged with a series of serious crimes including breaking and entering, assault and threats to kill.
The men were remanded in custody to appear in court at a later date.
