Milwaukee woman carjacked, shares her story: 'I was in fight mode'

A woman was carjacked on Milwaukee's east side moments after pulling out of her garage. It all happened in just a matter of seconds.

Melinda Randa never thought her morning routine would put her face-to-face with danger.

"I pull my car out," Randa said. "I walk here, open this, hit the button to close, and I come back out and there he is."

Moments after pulling out of her garage near Edgewood and Hackett around 9:15 a.m. on Monday, March 7, a child ran up and hopped into her car. Randa opened the passenger door, started yelling at the kid, and grabbed her purse. 

"While it was happening, I was in fight mode," Randa said.

The youth took off in Randa's 2014 Lexus 350. She called police.

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Already this year, the Milwaukee Police Department has investigated more than 1,600 car thefts.

"These aren’t victimless crimes. You are a victim. He affected how comfortable I feel now in my house and my neighborhood," Randa said.

Melinda Randa

Randa's car was discovered early Friday on Milwaukee's north side – with windows tinted and some damage. 

"I'm not sure I want that car. I actually think it would be traumatizing to take that car back," Randa said.

Randa is now warning others – if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. 

"Something far worse can happen than what happened to me," Randa said.

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Milwaukee police are still looking for the person who stole the car. If you have information that could help in this investigation, you are urged to call MPD.

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