Armed carjackers rob woman of BMW outside her home

A businesswoman was robbed of her BMW convertible at gunpoint as she parked it in her drive, police said yesterday.

The robbery took place after the 38-year-old woman arrived at her house in Yateley, Hampshire, late on Saturday evening.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said the woman had been to Reading and was parking the dark blue Z3 sports car when the robbery took place just before midnight.

"She pulled into the driveway of her home when two males approached her car. One opened the passenger door and got into the vehicle," he said.

"The other opened the driver's door and told her to get out. The victim believes that one of the men was holding a pistol. The offenders then drove off in the vehicle."

Detectives are searching for two smartly dressed black men in their early 20s, one with a London accent.

They are also trying to trace the vehicle, which has the distinctive registration number S1 WGW.

The car is estimated to be worth about £20,000.

This robbery is the latest in a spate of carjackings over the past few months in London and the South-east.

Detective Sergeant Alan Hastings said the carjacking was the first police had experienced in North Hampshire. He said he was investigating whether the robbery was opportunistic or planned.

The woman, who is single and lives in a detached house, would not be talking about her ordeal, he added.

"She is very shaken by what has happened," Det Sgt Hastings said. "She lives in a nice area, which is typical middle class or commuter belt. Unfortunately, that is the sort of area these people are targeting.

"We believe the car is now in London as Yateley is only 30 minutes from it on the M3. North Hampshire does get London villains coming to it."