Rondebosch police are warning Uber drivers to be vigilant when doing late call-outs and to be more cautious when destination
changes are made by customers.
This after police arrested four suspects on August 31 for allegedly hijacking an Uber driver in the Rondebosch area.
Rondebosch police spokesman, Warrant Officer Lyndon Sisam, said the hijackers had hailed an Uber from Cape Town at around 11.30pm and asked to be taken to Rondebosch.
When they got to Campground Road, one of the hijackers pulled out a knife and told the driver to cooperate. “They took his two cellphones and his watch.They also demanded cash but the driver had no cash on him. They pulled the driver to the back seat and drove around with him and then dropped him on the N7 near Edgemead,” said Warrant Officer Sisam.
The hijackers drove off with the white Toyota Avanza Uber taxi and the hijacking was broadcast for all vehicles to be on the look-out for the car.
Laaiplek police respon-ded as the vehicle was heading in their direction. They stopped the car and arrested four suspects.
In a separate incident, last Wednesday at about 1am, three men hijacked an Uber driver on the corner of Sandown and Milner roads.
Warrant Officer Sisam said a white vehicle had blocked the Uber driver.
Three men, one with a gun, accosted him, and told him to get into the back seat of his car.
They drove around with the driver and took his two cellphones and cash.
The driver was dropped uninjured in the Lansdowne area. The hijackers are still at large.
Uber Spokesperson, Samantha Fuller said: “This is an ongoing police investigation and our law enforcement response team are working closely with the police to gather more information to confirm whether this happened on an Uber trip.
“Currently there is no evidence to suggest this was during an Uber trip, however we will continue to work with the police to assist in their investigation.”