By BRIDGET COOK
A YOUNG woman said she thought she was going to die during an attempted abduction in Hampton Park last week.
Endeavour Hills resident Chelsea, 20, was attacked by a man who tried to push her into her own car from behind last week at the Hampton Park shopping centre.
Police are now seeking to identify a woman who scared the attacker off by yelling out and any other witnesses.
Chelsea was shopping at the Safeway supermarket on Somerville Road about 7pm on Tuesday 14 May.
“I was walking out of the shopping centre and as soon as I got to the door I heard a mumbling,” she said.
“I didn’t turn around fully, but I saw a man in my side vision standing quite closely behind me.
“In the reflection of a door I saw him put his hood on.
“As soon as a saw that I had a very bad feeling inside of me, but I just continued walking.”
Chelsea said she walked straight to her car and put her groceries in from her driver’s seat when the attack happened.
“He grabbed me from my waist and just kept pushing me into my car, but I wouldn’t go in as my neck kept hitting the door frame,” she said.
Another woman who was nearby cried out and the attacker ran off towards a nearby fast food restaurant.
Chelsea said it was a traumatic experience.
“It felt like it was a really long time,” she said.
“The worst things were running through my mind.
“I honestly thought I was going to die.
“Even during the day, I’m scared to go anywhere by myself now.
“Yesterday I took my brother with me to go to the shops and it was midday.
“I want to say thank you to the woman that helped, you probably saved my life.”
Casey Crime Investigation Unit Detective Leading Senior Constable Chris Russo said police were unsure at this stage what the man’s intentions were.
“It could have been something like theft or something more sinister, but at this stage we are keen to identify him so we can have those questions answered,” he said.
“People should be able to go and shop and not have anything happen to them, particularly something like this.”
The man was described as being aged between 20 and 30, with an average height, dark skin and an average to solid build.
He was wearing jeans and a dark hooded top at the time of the incident.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
