Gardaí in Limerick were last night questioning a man who hijacked a car in the city after threatening a young female motorist at knife-point.
The incident happened at 11.50am yesterday when the 20- year-old student was parking her car in Lower Gerald Griffin Street in the city.
According to gardaí, a man wearing a balaclava approached the window of the car and threatened her with a knife before stealing her vehicle.
The victim, from Limerick, was not injured but was said to be "extremely traumatised".
"You don't expect things like this to happen in broad daylight," said the victim's mother, who did not wish to be named. "She had just parked the car and was getting something out of the back seat when he approached the window. She thought he wanted her bag but then he produced the knife and took the car."
The armed car thief was arrested several hours later. He is due to appear before Limerick District Court later today.