Have-a-go mum foils car thief

BRAVE . . . Deborah grapples with the would-be thief in an image caught on CCTV

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A FEISTY Oldham mum became an internet sensation at the weekend when a shocking video of her fighting-off a thug trying to steal her car was viewed well over a million times.

CCTV footage, seen by people worldwide, showed Deborah Smythe cling to the door of her car as she was dragged along at high speed.

The drama unfolded on Oldham’s Ripponden Road early on Friday morning, when the plucky 52 year old found herself in a terrifying two-minute scrap that saw her nearly run over several times, and which left her bloody and bruised.

But Deborah refused to let the man get away with her Audi Q3 - and he accepted defeat and ran off.

Deborah, MD of Greencare UK Ltd, had had left her car open for moments to open a padlock. The opportunist, 6ft 3in thief jumped into the driver’s seat and began to drive off.

But he got more than he bargained for as Mrs Smythe managed to get the door open and wrestled the car back from him. Later Deborah revealed she was so determined not to let the car get away because she was flying to Tenerife later thatday and her passport and 700 Euros were in the car.

The man was white, 6ft 3in tall, stocky and in his late 30s or early 40s. He was wearing a black hat with flaps at the sides, a plain black zipped jacket with a large collar, and black trousers. He is described as having deep-set eyes, a “boxer’s” nose and blond/ginger stubble.

Detective Sergeant Mark McDowall said: “The incident was captured on CCTV and anyone who has seen it will agree how utterly shocking it is. She is extremely lucky not to have been more severely hurt.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161-856 1169/8927 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Deborah’s daughter Louise Fielding has started an online campaign to catch the bungling car thief.