Another ride-share driver robbed in Minneapolis following citywide alert
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Less than 24 hours after Minneapolis Police issued a city wide alert warning ride-share drivers of targeted car jackings and aggravated robberies, another driver became the latest victim.
"I believed that today is the day I was going to die," Lyft driver Fahmi Aden said.
Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, he pulled up for a passenger near the corner of North Queen Avenue and North 52nd Avenue and immediately knew something was off.
Two men asked if he was there to pick them up, got into his car and put a gun to his head.
"He even, like, punched the gun on my face when I begged him not to shoot me," Aden said.
Lyft driver Fahmi Aden was robbed in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon. The city warns ride-share drivers to be careful as they've been targeted for carjackings and robberies recently.
They demanded money and when Aden didn't have any cash, they ordered him to open up his phone, change the password and transfer all the money in his CashApp account to them, which was about $100.
Minneapolis Police say as many as 50 of these crimes have taken place in the city since August. About a dozen have happened over just the last week.
The suspects typically use a stolen phone to make a ride share request and then box in the driver with a stolen car when they arrive, stealing their wallet, cell phone, cell phone password and sometimes, their vehicle.
"There's some honest people trying to make an honest living, and you have crime like this happening in our community? Something needs to stop," said Tommy Fisher, who witnessed Saturday's crime.
Aden moved to Minnesota from Maine with his family about a month ago to find more opportunities in a bigger city. He says until he finds another job, he needs to keep driving to support his family.
"I'm feeling that I don't have faith anymore, but I am going to try my best to forget what happened today," Aden said.
His car had a dash camera that was rolling throughout the entire ordeal. That footage has been turned over as evidence to police.
If you become the victim of this type of crime, police say:
- Give up the vehicle - do not fight to keep the car.
- If you are confronted by an assailant(s), remain calm, do not argue.
- Along with a description of the suspect(s), try to remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth, manner of speech, etc.)
- Never pursue fleeing assailants - provide information and suspect(s) descriptions to responding officers.
- If video surveillance equipment is available, please save a copy of the incident for investigating detectives.
- If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information.
- Contact 911 immediately and remain on scene, if possible.
What police say residents should do:
- Call 911 immediately if you witness the elements of the crime(s) described above.
- Be sure to pay attention to specific details like license plates, vehicle damage, suspect(s) descriptions, and direction of travel. Provide this information to responding officers.
- If you have video surveillance, provide a copy, or contact information to the police.
- If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: http://crimestoppersmn.org or 1-800-222-8477.
- For further information go to Minneapolis Crime Maps and Dashboards.