BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Police Department is investigating a string of robberies where the suspects use Rideshare apps to carjack the drivers and then use the app to pick up victims and either rob them from Cash App or drive them to ATMs.
"It's a little bit scary," said Kofi Ajyepoing, a Lyft driver.
Ajyepoing has been a driver for Lyft for three years and says he's had to find his own ways of protecting himself.
"I use two phones, the one is the hotspot, so I have to keep the original one. So even if they take the one with the hotspot, you can't use it. I can block it from the other one. So that's the only way I protect myself,” Ajyepoing said.
Some rideshare users say they felt it was the safest way of getting around, but now give it a second thought.
"I think I’d at least think twice. I think, like I said, I live close by, I like to bike, but sometimes I’m going to be late, so I’ll take an Uber home. But I think now it will definitely be a second thought of is there a bus, is it easier to walk, things like that," one person said.
While others say they simply want nothing to do with rideshare, especially after hearing riders and drivers have become the targets.
"Yeah, I wouldn't do it. I'm not going to get involved in a situation where I have to worry about being robbed or have something stolen from me. I'd rather drive my own car and be safe," one person said.
Detectives have connected with multiple vendors and are working to have these payments reversed.
Just recently, an Uber driver was robbed Sunday morning outside of Horseshoe Casino.
Police say a man picked up what he thought was an Uber from the valet area.
After taking the victim in the wrong direction, the Uber pulled over and that's when a second car pulled from behind with 5-6 armed assailants.
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The victim was assaulted and robbed.
These are still active and ongoing cases.
