Shell-shocked resident woken by 'tremendous explosion' as stolen car being chased by police ploughs into her Harborough house

A terrified young mum was shaken wide awake as a stolen car being chased by police smashed through a wall and ploughed into her house in Market Harborough.

The shell-shocked woman leapt out of bed and ran downstairs moments after the black Vauxhall Corsa crashed into a car park straight into the side of her home on Northampton Road in the early hours of Thursday July 16.

The battered motor, which had been stolen just minutes earlier, ended up straddled crazily on top of a silver car just before 4am after the dramatic high-speed pursuit, which we reported earlier today.

Talking to the Harborough Mail, the stunned woman, who’s in her 30s, said: “It was absolutely terrifying.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with what happened – it still hardly seems real.”

The mum-of-one, who lives beside the Cinnamon Lounge restaurant, told how the incredible drama unfolded.

“I was in bed asleep when I heard this tremendous explosion.

“It sounded as if a bomb had gone off, it was that loud.

“I jumped straight out of bed and dashed downstairs,” said the woman, who asked not to be named.

“All I could see were flashing blue lights lighting up the darkness – there were five police cars straight there on the spot.

“Blue lights were flashing up and down the road.

“The police were obviously chasing this car and they were there instantly.

“I could hear police officers telling stunned residents who had gone out into the street to go back inside their homes for their own safety.

“Police began searching for a passenger in the car who had fled after the crash.

“They might have gone into Little Bowden rec, which is very near me.

“But the driver was stuck fast in his seat because his car was wedged right up beside my house – they couldn’t move.”

The amazing incident happened after the Corsa was taken from a business premises in Grenville Gardens, Market Harborough, at about 3.40am.

The black car was quickly spotted by a police patrol in Bath Street.

But when the driver was ordered to stop they roared off into Northampton Road before crashing spectacularly into the car park.

“I was lucky because amazingly the driver managed to swerve between a massive tree and a lamp-post before demolishing the wall.

“They must have been going at some speed because the impact and the devastation were huge,” said the mum, who has a two-year-old daughter.

“If they had veered just a few feet to the other side they’d have gone straight through my front window!

“The car was inches away from taking down my side wall, it’s only thin-skinned.

“And that wall supports my little girl’s bedroom.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about – it’s simply so shocking.”

She said she went out into her back garden to talk to her next-door neighbours as the late-night mayhem sent shockwaves through the entire street.

“Police officers stuck their heads over our fence and asked us to check out our cars in the car park.

“The Vauxhall Corsa hit two cars while three more were badly damaged by bricks and masonry sent flying through the air.

“A BMW had its window shattered while my neighbours had their back windscreen caved in and their windscreen cracked.

“I got off pretty lightly because my seven-year-old Volkswagen Polo was parked at the back of the site,” said the mum.

“I suffered a dent in the front while one of my back lights was smashed.

“I’m just relieved that no one was injured.

“It was dramatic and shocking enough but it could have been even worse.”

A 32-year-old man from Kettering was arrested by police chasing the stolen Corsa on suspicion of burglary and theft.

“Enquiries are ongoing to locate a second man who may have been involved,” said Leicestershire Police.

“Officers investigating the incident are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.”

Sgt Tom Smith, of Harborough and Wigston Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA), said on Thursday: “While we’ve arrested one man, enquiries to locate a second man are continuing.

“We would like to speak to anyone who saw the Vauxhall Astra being driven in the early hours of this morning.”

He added: “I’m particularly keen to speak to anyone who has a dashcam installed in their vehicle or who saw or heard anyone acting in a suspicious or unusual manner in Grenville Gardens.

“Any information that you have could help with our investigation.”

If you can help police then call 101, quoting reference 20*363730.

You can also report crime online by visiting www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime