A man posing as a Good Samaritan tried to get a female motorist to leave her car by telling her boot was open.
The incident happened in the Castlecourt Shopping Centre in Belfast yesterday evening.
There have been numerous incidents of this nature reported in recent times, and they are expected to intensify, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
With the Christmas Market now in full swing in Belfast drawing shoppers and visitors from all over the Province, motorists are being advised to be wise to the ploys of those who would try to take advantage.
The woman described the incident as a “very scary experience” and said she wanted “to make others aware”.
Belfast Christmas Market
Kaleena Morelli revealed details of her run-in, which happened at around 4pm yesterday (Saturday), via Facebook.
She had been driving out of Castlecourt when it happened.
“I had just stopped at the first set of traffic lights when there was a rap at my car window,” she reported.
“A guy in his 30-40s was standing there. He told me my boot was opened.”
At first, she said, she was going to get out of the vehicle, but then the lights changed.
Kaleena continued: “He asked if I wanted him to close it for me. Before I could say yes he was round trying to open the boot – it didn’t open.
“I told him that was OK I would sort it. It was only after I realised my car has an icon on the dashboard that was NOT lit.
“This guy was waiting on me getting out of my car to take it, when he saw this wasn’t happening he then tried to take what was in my boot – which was nothing, I had not been shopping.”
Kaleena warned others to be wary.
“Beware – do not get out of your car,” she added. “Wait til your safe. I got lucky someone may not. Please share this.”
The incident comes just weeks after a woman tried to open the car door of a female motorist as she sat in her vehicle at the Magowan West Car Park in Portadown.
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