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Rideshare confusion leads to kidnapping, robbery
D.C. Police say the victims entered a vehicle believing it was a rideshare. After they were inside, the driver pulled a handgun and locked the doors of the vehicle before driving them to different banks demanding they withdraw money from the ATM.
WASHINGTON - Authorities are looking for a driver they said pulled a gun on passengers in the District and forced them to withdraw money from an ATM after they mistakenly entered the vehicle thinking it was a rideshare.
People who live in the area say it’s unfortunate to hear especially as the summer approaches and more people look forward to using rideshare apps to experience the nightlife.
"That’s crazy because I don’t live too far from here and I don’t think that’s like a predicament or situation that I want to put myself in or anyone else should be in. I think that over the past couple of weeks or months we’ve seen a lot of like heightened crime, robbery, and everything and I don’t feel safe," Ian Nix said.
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Armed driver forces passengers to withdraw cash after they mistake vehicle for rideshare in DC: police
Authorities are looking for a driver they said pulled a gun on passengers who mistakenly entered a vehicle thinking it was a rideshare.
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The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 600 block of Florida Avenue in Northwest D.C. Officers say the victims entered a vehicle believing it was a rideshare. After they were inside, the driver pulled a handgun and locked the doors of the vehicle before driving them to different banks demanding they withdraw money from the ATM.
One victim was able to run away after being dropped off along New Hampshire Avenue while the other was held hostage until he was released on Chillum Road in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Luckily, neither of them were injured.
"That’s absolutely terrifying as someone who always uses rideshare and lives right up the road – you just after a night out think of Uber as a safe option and to know there are people preying maybe on someone who’s intoxicated or not paying attention and looking for a way home is really scary," said DC Resident Tori Kolar.
Another person said, "Yeah, not fun. I’ve been mugged myself so it’s not a good experience."
Investigators say the vehicle is described as a white Dodge Charger and released surveillance camera images.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099 or text your tip to the Department's TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.
DC Police Commander James Boteler is providing tips to help prevent a situation like this from happening to anyone else.
- Double-check the license plate number to make sure it matches the vehicle you’re hopping into.
- Ask for the driver’s name to make sure it’s correct.
"I have family and friends who utilize rideshare vehicles and to think this could have been one of them victimized is pretty upsetting, but this just goes back to everybody being aware of their surroundings and making sure you verify what you’re doing prior to getting into one of these vehicles and again, trusting your instinct," Boteler said.
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