Oakland police warn of robberies, attempted carjackings targeting rideshare drivers
Rideshare drivers targeted by criminals in Oakland
Oakland Police issue a public safety warning about the uptick in crimes such as robberies and attempted carjackings against rideshare drivers.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland police on Thursday warned of a recent string of robberies and attempted carjackings targeting rideshare drivers.
3 incidents reported
What we know:
Investigators said there have been three incidents in recent weeks, all occurring after 9 p.m. in the same area, near 46th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, according to the Oakland Police Department.
"It doesn't surprise me, knowing Oakland," said Abdel Soumana, a rideshare driver who lives and drives in Oakland.
He stays away from Foothill Boulevard and certain areas at night.
"As soon as I see the rider, I kind of know, hey this guy's going to get me into trouble. I just cancel the ride and go
It happens to me. I do stuff like that sometimes," said Soumana.
In each case, suspects requested rides in the area. Once inside the vehicle, they asked the driver to pull over and then attempted to rob or carjack the driver, police said.
"People need to pay more attention to what they're doing. That's all. They need to keep their eyes open," said rideshare driver Raymond Alexander.
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2 juveniles arrested, another outstanding
What's next:
Two minors have been arrested in connection with the cases, and police are searching for a third suspect, who is also believed to be a minor.
The department urged rideshare drivers to remain alert and take extra precautions, such as installing GPS trackers and dashboard cameras to help document and record any incidents.
"If a rider requests an unexpected or unsafe stop, trust your instincts — drive to a well-lit, populated area and call 911 if necessary," the department said.
"I never go outside Alameda after 8pm. I never go to dangerous places," rideshare driver Adham Altawil said he only drives in Oakland during daylight hours.
Souwana has been working as a rideshare driver for four years, and said he may quit soon because there are too many drivers and safety is an issue.
"I'm really thinking about letting it go because the money is not there anymore. You can easily make a thousand a week, but right now, if you make $100 a day it's kinda hard," said Souwana,
"To all my fellow drivers: guys be careful. It's not worth it sometimes."
Several rideshare drivers said they already have cameras installed in their vehicles.
Police recommend that drivers install GPS devices such as air tags or tiles as an added precaution.
The Source: Oakland Police Department