A woman jumped out of a car after she was driven to Kent in a vehicle she believed was her Uber.
On October 10th, a woman reported to police that she had been taken by a man who was impersonating an Uber driver. The 25-year-old woman had been out at a bar in the 400 block of 1st Avenue South in Pioneer Square when she was ready to leave and ordered an Uber. When the vehicle arrived, the woman opened the door and asked if the vehicle was for her. The driver told her that it was, but the woman didn’t verify the license plate or driver’s name.
As the woman sat in the backseat, she saw the driver pass her exit and then got a notification that her Uber ride had been cancelled. The woman looked around the vehicle, and noticed that the driver was following directions from Google Maps and wasn’t using the Uber app. As fear and worry began to take over, she frantically started texting her friends about what was going on. The victim believed the driver exited at exit 156 in Kent, then went through 3 intersections. While sitting at a red light, the woman jumped out of the car and ran away as the vehicle sped off.
A short time later, her friends found her near Military Road South and Kent Des Moines Road in Kent.
The woman described the vehicle as a white 4-door sedan and the driver as a black male, between the ages of 30-50.
Police contacted the Real Time Crime Center for possible footage of the incident, since the victim did not have the suspect vehicle’s license plate. However, the SPD cameras in the area were not functional and did not capture footage of the incident.
Police are asking the public for assistance in identifying the suspect and vehicle in the incident. Tips or information can be submitted to the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206)-233-5000.
Rideshares can be an excellent way to safely get home from a night out, but every ride needs a safety check. By using these tips, you and your friends can enjoy the night and the ride home.
1. Wait for your ride in a safe, well-lit location and try to ride with a friend.
Booking a ride home from a night out is a responsible thing to do. But waiting alone outside at night can be dangerous. Try to book your ride while you’re still inside and ride with a friend if possible.
2. Always verify the driver’s name and license plate.
Make sure the vehicle matches the one that you’ve booked. Always verify the license plate on the vehicle with the license plate in the app and if possible, confirm the driver’s name and photo as well.
3. Have the driver confirm who they are picking up.
Before getting in the vehicle, ask the driver who they are here to pick up. Instead of asking the driver, “Are you here for ____?” ask them, “Who are you here for?” This gives the driver a chance to verify that they have your information without you providing them with it.
4. Sit in the backseat and check the locks.
Sitting in the backseat gives you a safe distance from the driver and allows you to use your phone if you need. This also gives you a chance to check the child locks on the door and ensure that you can leave the vehicle at any time, on either side of the vehicle.
5. Share your ride details with friends.
Before getting in the vehicle, share with a friend the details of the trip. Key details to share are where you’re leaving from, the type of rideshare you’re using, the license plate and vehicle description, and your estimated time of arrival. Make sure to update your friend if anything changes with the ride.
An example text would be:
“I’m in my Uber heading home from the bar. It’s a light blue Prius and the license plate is ABC1234. The app says I’ll get home at 1:15am. I’ll text you when I get there.”
6. Know where you’re going and look out the windows.
If you’re headed home and you start to notice that you’re going a different direction, or you don’t recognize the area, take note of that and look for street signs or landmarks.
7. Trust your instincts.
Booking a rideshare can be the responsible thing to do after a night out, but listening to your instincts when something feels off is important. If you notice something is odd about the trip or the vehicle, take note of that and text a friend.
8. Call or text 911 if you feel in danger.
If you feel like you are in danger, you can call 911 and speak to a call taker. If you don’t know where you are, tell the call taker what you see out of the window, where you were supposed to be going, and where you left from. If you feel like you can’t talk out loud, you can always text 911.
Visit the CARE Department to learn more about what information to give 911 operators during your emergency.