A man was beaten over the head with a wheel brace and a woman had her handbag stolen as their car was hijacked on the outskirts of Belfast earlier today.
The victims were sitting in a red BMW car at Hazelbank Park, in Newtownabbey, on the northern outskirts of the city, when a small dark coloured vehicle containing two men pulled up beside them.
The men approached the driver's side of the BMW, opened the door and dragged the man out.
The beat him with a wheel brace and demanded that the woman hand over her handbag.
They made off in the BMW followed by the other car, heading in the direction of Belfast.
The man sustained head injuries but his condition was believed not to be life threatening.
Both victims, however, were shaken as a result of the ordeal.
Police in Newtownabbey appealed to anyone who was in the Hazelbank Park area between 4.00 and 4.30am and who may have seen anything suspicious to help their investigation.