A local woman is warning drivers after a frightening experience while admiring holiday lights.
On Friday night, just before 10 p.m., Zvetlana Sandoval parked at 6th and Harbison in National City.
“I saw a house that was nicely decorated so I thought, ‘Oh I’ll stop and take a picture,’” said Sandoval.
With her car still running and the windows up, Sandoval showed us the photos she took before something caught her attention in the side-view mirror.
“I see this man approaching the car,” said Sandoval.
Near the back of the car was a lean Hispanic man in his thirties, wearing a ponytail, hoodie and backpack.
“I was scared because he just had a wide-eyed stare,” said Sandoval.
Sandoval says the man moved closer to the window and yanked on the handle four times.
“I felt like throwing up. I’ve never gone through anything like this before,” said Sandoval.
Frantic, Sandoval pushed the door lock button, but it was already locked.
As she peeled away, she looked in her mirror and saw him following her. She made a turn and he ran toward the car before she got away.
She filed a police report, and warned drivers on the website Nextdoor.com.
She gets chills thinking about his plans if he had gotten in her car.
“Watch out, keep an eye out. You never know who's lurking in your neighborhood,” said Sandoval.
Steve Albrech, a security expert, says Sandoval did several things right: the doors were locked, the windows were up, and she had enough room to drive away.
