Car-jackers armed with axe steal mum's BMW in front of her daughter

The 35-year-old victim had parked her car at Morrisons in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, during a trip with her 12-year-old daughter.

The girl had left to get a trolley when her mother was approached by four men – one of whom was carrying the axe – who demanded her keys.

One snatched them from her hand and pushed her to the floor at around 7.10pm on Friday before three men sped off in her car.

The fourth man sleft in the car the gang arrived in, which is believed to be a silver estate. The victim's daughter saw what happened as she returned with a trolley.

Police have now issued an urgent appeal for help tracking down both of the vehicles and have asked for any witnesses or people with dash-cam footage to come forward.

The mother and daughter were left shaken but with no visible injuries, West Midlands Police said.

The robbers were described as having dark skin, wearing black clothing and snood-type face coverings. They had local accents.

Detective Constable Kerrie Galloway, from Force CID, said: "This was a terrifying, intimidating attack by four men who could clearly see that the victim and her young daughter were alone.

"Not only did the victim’s daughter witness their car being stolen but she also had to see her mother being pushed to the floor with one of the offenders having an axe.

"I urge the members of the public who witnessed this incident and bravely came to the aid of the victims to contact us, any further information in relation to the car that the offenders arrived in, their identity and any sighting of the victim’s stolen car would be greatly appreciated along with any dash-cam or recordings of the incident."

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the force via their website, or by calling 101 and quoting 20SH/239043F/20.