CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA -- Police are searching for a man who abducted and robbed an Uber driver on Sunday, Oct. 25. in Chesterfield.
Police said the female driver picked up the male suspect at the Walmart at 900 Walmart Way at about 7:45 p.m. During the trip, the man asked the driver to stop at the Union Bank branch at 13700 Midlothian Turnpike. Upon arrival at the bank, the man displayed a firearm and forced the driver into the vehicle’s trunk.
The suspect then drove the vehicle, a silver-blue 2012 Hyundai Accent hatchback, away from the bank.
Chesterfield abduction suspect
While driving, the suspect demanded money from the victim and stopped at multiple locations. At one stop, the suspect used the victim’s debit card at the Village Bank branch at 1120 Huguenot Road.
The suspect then drove the victim to Rockwood Park and fled with the victim’s purse and cell phones. The victim then drove to another location and called police. No one was injured during the incident.
After this latest incident involving an Uber driver, some people believe the late night driving while alone might not be safe.
Uber driver Habtamu said he’s only had good experience while driving.
“It’s been good, I never have a bad experience,” Habtamu, who has been driving for Uber for 6 months, said.
News that police said one of his fellow Uber drivers was abducted and robbed over the weekend came as a shock.
“Oh my God that’s a bad experience,” Habtamu said.
Yet, Habtamu said he still feels safe driving for Uber because they have to set up a profile that includes their credit card in order to call an Uber, which means they are on file in Uber’s system.
“If they do something wrong with me, they know the Uber going to catch them,” Habtamu said.
The suspect is described as a black man, between 20 and 30 years old, and 6 feet tall with an average build. He had short, dark-colored hair and eyeglasses. He was wearing dark-colored work clothes with an emblem. There was possibly a name tag or company logo, on the shirt.
Anyone with information should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
