There is a warning for women drivers, after a number of car hijackings and robberies.

The incidents - which happened in quiet, isolated area - were reported to gardaí last month.

In one incident in Waterford, a woman stopped her car after she thought something hit it.

When she got out to check, she was pinned against her car and her handbag was stolen.

The assailant, who spoke with an eastern European accent, pinned her to the bonnet of the car pressing his elbow into her back.

Those responsible fled the scene on foot and the woman alerted the gardaí.

While in Cork, the Irish Independent reports that a car was stolen after the driver got out to help a man on the roadside.

It is believed that the tactic of throwing objects at passing cars is becoming more common to get drivers out of their cars.

Conor Faughnan of the AA says while people need to be aware, there is no need to panic.