A mother has recalled the terrifying moment she and her teenage daughter were allegedly attacked in broad daylight before the thieves made off in their car and their beloved dog in the back seat.
It’s been a harrowing 24 hours for Townsville woman Trudy, battered and bruised as she worried about the family’s stolen border collie Phoenix.
The mother and her daughter, 17, stopped at Subway Kelso to get something to eat around 4pm on Thursday when they were confronted by a man and a woman on scooters.
Shocking images show the man climbing into the driver’s seat of the black Ford Ranger.
He then gets out to punch Trudy in the face as she tried to stop him from getting the keys
This is the terrifying moment Trudy was attacked by the alleged thief in broad daylight
The family’s border collie Phienix (photo) was in the backseat at the time
“I could hear the woman laughing and kicking the passenger side where my daughter was,” she told police Townsville Bulletin.
‘It escalated when I got out of the car.
‘He threatened me and hit me, while the woman came up from behind and hit me.
‘He got behind the wheel and started hitting my daughter, shouting at her to get out of the car.’
Trudy and her daughter were taken to the hospital.
Trudy was left badly bruised and swollen, but is more concerned about the impact the incident has had
She also panicked over whether Phoenix was safe, who was still missing 24 hours later.
‘Who steals someone’s dog and car like that? It’s just pure evil,” she said
Phoenix is now back with her owners after police found her at an address on Friday afternoon
Trudy and her relieved family were reunited with Phoenix on Friday evening.
After extensive investigation, Queensland Police found Phoenix safe in a Kelso, along with the allegedly stolen black Ford Ranger.
A photo shared by Queensland Police shows the lucky dog beating him up and posing for the camera with officers.
“Police and the family would like to thank the community for their assistance, which greatly assisted officers in locating Phoenix,” a statement said.
Police later located and arrested a 28-year-old Oonoonba woman and a 29-year-old Rasmussen man in Rasmusse
“A man and a woman remain in police custody and are expected to be charged with multiple offences,” a police statement said
“The investigation continues.”
Trudy (photo) was left battered and bruised after the harrowing ordeal