This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/20/first-picture-mother-injured-birmingham-carjackers-drove-baby

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
First picture released of mother injured by thieves who drove off with baby First picture released of mother injured by thieves who drove off with baby
(35 minutes later)
A photograph of a mother reunited with her four-week-old baby after a carjacking has been released by West Midlands police. Police have released a photograph of a mother reunited with her four-week-old baby after a carjacking in Birmingham.
Clare O’Neill was injured as she tried to get her newborn daughter, Eliza, out of the vehicle as it was taken from her on Thursday afternoon.Clare O’Neill was injured as she tried to get her newborn daughter, Eliza, out of the vehicle as it was taken from her on Thursday afternoon.
O’Neill, 39, pulled up on her drive in Acocks Green, Birmingham, at 4pm and was immediately approached by two men. As she fought to get her daughter out of the car, the men drove off, injuring her face and legs during the struggle. O’Neill, 39, pulled up on her drive in Acocks Green, Birmingham, at 4pm and was approached by two men. As she fought to get her daughter out of the car, the men drove off. O’Neill sustained injuries to her face and legs during the struggle.
Officers across the city began a search for the baby and 45 minutes later an ambulance crew at Small Heath health centre found her safe and well, still in her car seat. West Midlands police began a search for the baby, and 45 minutes later an ambulance crew at Small Heath health centre recovered her safe and well, still in her car seat.
Witnesses told the Birmingham Mail: “I heard someone shouting ‘my baby, my baby.’ Witnesses told the Birmingham Mail: “I heard someone shouting ‘my baby, my baby.’ I thought it was a domestic. Two cars sped off out of the street, her car following another car very closely behind. They were so close you couldn’t see the front licence plate on her car.
“I thought it was a domestic. Two cars sped off out of the street, her car following another car very closely behind. They were so close you couldn’t see the front licence plate on her car. “I saw the car they arrived in but only one person was in it, so whether the accomplice was lying down or already on the street I don’t know. The woman was injured. She had abrasions on her legs and face.”
“I saw the car they arrived in but only one person was in it, so whether the accomplice was lying down or already on the street I don’t know. Neighbours rushed out to help O’Neill. Kanu Chavda, 68, said he and his wife heard screaming and shouting outside their home.
“The woman was injured. She had abrasions on her legs and face.”
Neighbours rushed out to help O’Neill. Kanu Chavda, 68, and his wife heard screaming and shouting outside their home.
“When she looked out the window she saw a struggle going on. All of the residents came out and the mother was on the floor. She was bruised and bloodied,” he said.“When she looked out the window she saw a struggle going on. All of the residents came out and the mother was on the floor. She was bruised and bloodied,” he said.
“She said her baby had been snatched by two guys, with one wearing a black hood. I’ve lived here for 30 years and never known anything like this.”“She said her baby had been snatched by two guys, with one wearing a black hood. I’ve lived here for 30 years and never known anything like this.”
DI Jim Munro said: “This incident has shocked the whole of our force area and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for the offenders. We have a team of officers trawling through CCTV and speaking to residents in Marie Drive, as well as fast-tracking forensic analysis of the baby seat.DI Jim Munro said: “This incident has shocked the whole of our force area and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for the offenders. We have a team of officers trawling through CCTV and speaking to residents in Marie Drive, as well as fast-tracking forensic analysis of the baby seat.
“We are asking anyone who may have seen the grey Audi A3 S-line with registration number BJ66 YLV since yesterday afternoon to contact us. “We are asking anyone who may have seen the grey Audi A3 S-line with registration number BJ66 YLV since yesterday afternoon to contact us.”
“We are delighted that mother and baby have been reunited and we wish Clare a speedy recovery.” He added: “We are delighted that mother and baby have been reunited and we wish Clare a speedy recovery.”
The force tweeted the photograph with the message: “First pic of mum Claire O’Neill and baby Eliza released after terrifying #AcocksGreen car-jacking ordeal.” The force tweeted the photograph with the message: “First pic of mum Clare O’Neill and baby Eliza released after terrifying #AcocksGreen carjacking ordeal.”
Neighbours have said the family were expected home on Friday evening and other locals turned up to leave flowers and baby clothes for the baby. Claudia Gardner, 43, bought trousers for Eliza and said she was kept awake all night thinking about the attack. Neighbours said the family were expected home on Friday evening. Other locals turned up to leave flowers and clothes for the baby. Claudia Gardner, 43, had bought trousers for Eliza and said she had been kept awake all night thinking about the attack.
She left a note reading: “This is just to say that people out there are thinking about you, your baby and your family and are shocked by the horrendous incident you had to endure.”She left a note reading: “This is just to say that people out there are thinking about you, your baby and your family and are shocked by the horrendous incident you had to endure.”
Outside the Small Heath health centre police continued to look at CCTV footage. Patients at the health centre praised two receptionists who found the baby. One said they managed to calm the child before calling police. “They were so calm and really looked after the baby. She was in safe hands,” said the patient, who did not want to be named.
Meanwhile, two receptionists who found the baby were praised by patients. One said they managed to calm the child before calling the police. The baby was examined at the health centre before being moved to Birmingham’s Heartlands hospital as a precaution. The baby was examined at the health centre before being taken to Birmingham’s Heartlands hospital as a precaution.
The patient, who did not want to be named, said: “They were so calm and really looked after the baby. She was in safe hands.” On Tuesday another Audi S3 was stolen in a carjacking six miles away, in the Nechells area of the city. CCTV footage showed a young mother fleeing with her daughter, two, in Jameson Road at 1.30pm.
It comes just three days after another Audi S3 was stolen in a carjacking six miles away in the Nechells area of the city. CCTV shows a young mother being forced to flee with her daughter, two, in Jameson Road at 1.30pm. The carjackers had staged an accident and then jumped in the car as the father got out of the vehicle. West Midlands police said it was not yet known whether the two incidents were linked but it was one line of inquiry.
The gang staged an “accident” and jumped in the car as the father got out of the vehicle.
West Midlands police said they were not linking the carjackings but it was one line of inquiry.
BirminghamBirmingham
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content