MIRAMAR, FLA. (WSVN) - Just as a woman opened the garage of her Miramar home, Tuesday night, an unknown man attacked her, grabbed her car keys and drove off in her car.
Lauren Turkington had returned from work to her home in a gated community, Tuesday, when the carjacking happened. Surveillance video from her home showed the man rushing Turkington as she went to open her garage.
“He grabbed at my purse that I had on my arm and kind of reached for me,” Turkington said, “and the only thing that he could get out of my hand was the keys to my car.”
That man had followed Turkington into the gated community, stalked her to her home and attacked her. Turkington ran after the attacker, but he drove off in her 2016 Ford Fusion.
“It was so scary, scared to death by that, unreal,” Turkington said. “That could have gone so many different ways. I didn’t know if he had a weapon on him or what was going to happen or if he could’ve gotten into my house or hurt me. So I’m just glad that I’m OK.”
Turkington said she has never felt unsafe in her community, located right off of Red Road, before.
“It’s just emotional thinking there was so many things going through my head, never felt unsafe in that neighborhood until that night,” she said. “Just realizing that I have a lot of family that live out of state and nieces and nephews. It’s just crazy.”
“It’s just realizing the fact that that happened in the matter for 30 seconds that my whole life would’ve changed, my family’s life would’ve changed, if that would’ve gone any differently than it did,” Turkington said.
Miramar Police Detective Wayne Dunlap said the man didn’t even bother to hide his face.
“Very brazen,” Dunlap said. “I mean, anyone could’ve been around. He didn’t try to hide his face. He didn’t try to hide behind cars. He just full-on attacked.”
Lauren hopes someone will recognize the man and alert police.
“I don’t know why anyone does this,” she said. “It’s not fair. Just please help if you know anything. Just please call and let’s get this kid captured because I’m sure he’s out there trying it again.”
Dunlap said the attacker is likely in his teens or early 20s.
“We’re looking for you and if anybody knows who you are, please call us. It’s very, very important,” he said.
If you have any information on this attack, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.