Good Samaritan carjacked at O.C. offramp

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman was violently carjacked Friday in southern Orange County. A man slammed a 62-year-old woman's face into her steering wheel and then forced her to drive off. Authorities are looking for the suspects.

The 62-year-old victim had just gotten off the 5 Freeway, stopping at a stop sign, where the suspect approached her car. She was trying to be niceand helpful, but it ended up a kidnapping and robbery.

The victim described the man who kidnapped her to police, and a composite sketch of the suspect was produced. He had dark shaggy hair and a long, scruffy beard. Authorities say he knocked on the woman's passenger-side window when she pulled up to a stop sign at the offramp of Avenida Calafia, off the southbound 5 Freeway in San Clemente.

"He was asking if she knew where he could get something to eat," said Jim Amormino, Orange County Sheriff's Dept. "She stated she was from San Diego. She didn't know."

The suspect pretended he couldn't hear her and got her to roll down her window all the way.

"He unlocked the door, jumped in the car, slammed her head against the steering wheel and ordered her to drive away," said Amormino.

The suspect forced her to drive around for several minutes. The victim noticed a light blue car following them.

"The suspect ordered her to pull over, he then robbed her of all her personal belongings, cash, purse, laptop computer and cell phone," said Amormino. "She then noticed the suspect get out of the car, jump in that light blue sedan, both suspects drove away."

The suspect car is described as an older model, possibly a four-door American sedan, faded oxidized blue. The last two digits on the license plate number are "5" and "8."

"That's terrible, especially an elderly lady, it's scary," said motorist Lindsay Bourne. "It's scary as a female driver."

"I'm surprised that the lady let him in the car, but maybe she's a super nice lady trying to help him out and then he, I don't know ... it's ridiculous," said San Clemente resident Hans Nusslock.

The incident happened Friday about 2 p.m., not far from the beach in what is normally a quiet community.

"Extremely trusting, everybody is so friendly in this whole area that yeah, I can definitely see how she you know could be taken by somebody like that," said San Clemente resident Rose Bradley.

The suspect is believed to be in his 40s, 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighing about 160 to 180 pounds.

Fortunately the suspects did let the victim ago and except for a bruise on her forehead, authorities say she is physically going to be OK.

The victim did not get a good look at the suspect who was driving the blue vehicle, but if you've seen the suspect who kidnapped her, or that vehicle and you saw what happened, call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (866) TIP-OCSD.

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