By Dionne Meehan
A DONEGAL Town woman was left terrified after a trespasser entered her car while it was defrosting on her driveway.
Sorcha Little, who lives in a rural area outside the town, was getting ready to go to the gym last Friday morning when she noticed her car was thick with frost.
Turning on the ignition in the hope her car would defrost quicker, she returned indoors to finish her breakfast.
It was something she said she will never do again.
Returning to her car a mere four minutes later, she was met by an intruder sitting in her passenger’s seat.
Taking to social media this week to open up about her frightening ordeal, Sorcha said: “It was seven o’clock in the morning and I was getting ready to go to the gym. I sat into the car, looked to my left and there was somebody sitting beside me. I did not know this person, I didn’t know where he came from and I immediately felt unsafe.”
Beginning to scream uncontrollably, Sorcha asked the male what he was doing.
In response, she was told to “calm down”.
“My parents heard me screaming,” she said.
But by the time Sorcha’s father came to her aid, the mystery man had vanished from the driveway.
“My father got into the car and drove down the road a couple of minutes later but couldn’t see him,” Sorcha said.
She then decided to seek help from local gardaí.
This incident comes just days after gardaí in Donegal urged the public not to leave their cars running unattended while defrosting.
Making the appeal, a garda spokesperson said: “Freezing conditions at night mean frozen car windscreens in the mornings but please do not start your car in order to defrost it and leave it unattended, particularly in a built up area.”
Outlining the risks involved, gardaí urged car owners not to make life easy for opportunist thieves.
“When defrosting your vehicle, defrost externally by using de-icer or warm water,” a spokesperson continued.
“Or, if you turn on your car, please remain inside your car and take the time to defrost windscreens thoroughly.
“Never leave your car unattended while it is unlocked or while the engine is running.”
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