Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Report: Fake Uber driver robs woman after a night in the East Village

According to the Daily News this morning, a 24-year-old woman used her Uber phone app for a pick up on East Houston at Mangin near the FDR at 1:30 a.m. on May 15 after a night in the East Village.

Police sources told the Daily News that she mistook a black sedan for her ride, and the driver played along.

When she realized the car was taking her north on the FDR Drive, away from Brooklyn, it was too late. The driver passed the 96th St. exit and demanded her cash, threatening to shoot and sexually assault her, authorities said.

She complied, handing over her iPhone, wallet, $20 in cash, a debit card, a MetroCard, a jacket and a pair of gold earrings. The woman managed to get out the car on E. 125th St. between Park and Madison Aves. The driver exited the highway somewhere in upper Manhattan, cops said.

The article did not offer a description of the suspect...only an artist's sketch of the suspect...



Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

So in exchange for 20 bucks, a used iPhone, jewelry and a MetroCard, this guy is basically going to jail for the rest of his life. What a loser.

Anonymous said...

But why would you get in an unidentified car at 1:30 AM at Houston and the FDR?

Anonymous said...

Did the victim get the license plate information?

Anonymous said...

This could have ended tragically. At the risk of blaming the victim, where is her instinct for self-preservation?
The glasses have a very particular shape. Unless she's an optometrist, I would guess there's some artistic license involved...

Anonymous said...

@10:33am: Police sketch artists are not known for taking "artistic license" - the artist would have come as close on every feature (including the glasses) as the victim can describe.

Anonymous said...

This *did* end pretty tragically, if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

Hey stupid at 8:44am re-read the fucking article. It said she "used her Uber app" to get the car. This means she got into what she thought was an Uber car when in reality it was someone who passed himself up as an Uber driver. How was he a "fake Uber driver" when she chose him among available Uber drivers via her app. I think you mean "a man who registered with Uber to prey on people."

This is what happens when you don't vet your drivers, Uber, and I hope this victim sues you for as much as she can get.

Uber should be banned from NYC until their drivers go through the EXACT same vetting process as NYC cab drivers and black limo drivers. What makes them so fucking special? Cuz mostly white hipsters and millenials use them? Can't keep those (including people who are too fucking good to use NYC taxis and/or don't want to deal with the mostly non-white and/or Muslim people who drive them) from using their darling car service they used in Austin or wherever before they came here (and will use after they leave here.)

Anonymous said...

And things never happen in a yellow cab? Right..Yellow cabs that refuse outer borough turn their signs off at 4:30 pm try catching one in a rain shower love your mindless bigoted attitude 4:53 take your yellow cab yourself quit threading on what others choose to do.

Anonymous said...

4:53PM...It must be exhausting to be such a hostile person...but at least you worked a racial component into this story. Well done!

Anonymous said...

4:53PM...It must be exhausting to be such a hostile person...but at least you worked a racial component into this story. Well done!

Anonymous said...

Hey, 4:53. This is stupid. Just because you fiddle around with an app doesn't mean the right driver shows up. I would have checked for an Uber sign, or medallion, or the console with the GPS showing the pickup and route.

Just saying. But you are right: millennials like Uber because it is so sanitized and, of course, app-friendly.

There are also incredibly reliable car services on the lower east side as well. But those require a phone call and who has the time or energy for that.

Anonymous said...

Hey 6:33pm Where did I say things don't happen in a yellow cab? Nowhere, so pipe down.

Mindless bigoted attitude how? Cuz you're a white hipster and/or a white millenial? Hello pot calling kettle black. Most of you white hipsters and millenials who use Uber use it because you don't want non-white and/or Muslim people driving you - real talk, deal with it.

As for yellow cabs who refuse outer borough trips, you really don't have a clue do you? That cabbie with the light off and no passengers at 4:30pm is on his way back to the taxicab garage because his day is done and he needs to get the cab back there in time for the next cabbie to use the car. Newsflash: you can hail a cab at or after 4:30pm and go wherever you want and if the driver refuses simply take down his name, medallion, hack license, and cab number and report him.

Take the subway, Uber, or a car service if you need to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn/Queens/Bronx/Staten Island. And you have to be some kind of dumb shit to want to be on the meter from going to midtown to Astoria, Queens. Have fun paying that $80 taxicab fare and the minimum $40 tip you better give that driver for all the time he wasted taking you to somewhere you could've taken the N train to and going back to Manhattan from there. If I was a cabbie and you wanted to go from 23rd and 3rd to Astoria, you are showing me you have a credit card or at least $150 cash or I'm not taking you and report me if you don't I don't give a fuck, I'm not risking being stiffed with the fare or tip. There should be a minimum $30 surcharge the driver keeps for all outer borough trips (you can give him x over the $30 if you want.)