🚕🤕 Violence Against NYC TLC Drivers Continues

NYC TLC drivers continue to be subject to violence or exposed to dangerous situations, including unknowingly giving a ride to an escaped prisoner

While we’ve covered several violent incidents involving NYC TLC drivers over the last months and years, many continue to occur. NYC is a busy place, so some of these stories might slip through the cracks and miss a larger audience.

Yes, we know it can be demotivating 😞 for TLC drivers and others to continually speak about attacks on drivers, BUT it's important. Sharing this information not only helps draw attention to these events but can also assist advocacy groups in reaching out to those impacted and helping other drivers take precautions.

Today, we thought we would share some recent incidents that we feel have flown under the radar.

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Uber driver robbed of $455 worth of items

(Queens Chronicle, published August 3, 2023)

• During altercation, the 51 year old driver punched several times

  • $455 worth of goods was stolen, including Airpods, phone charger and camera

• Incident happened on June 16th, NYPD requesting public help identifying four people wanted in connection with the robbery of a Uber driver

• Crime was committed near 137-03 168 St. in Jamaica around 2:30am

• The driver was treated by EMS for minor injuries, but refused to go to a hospital for further treatment

Taxi driver robbed of $10 at knifepoint in Manhattan, suspect sought

(Patch & 1010 WINS, published August 3, 2023)

• 46 year old yellow cab driver was robbed for $10 on June 21st

  • TLC driver was looking for fares near Charles Street and the West Side Highway when he pulled over to pick up a passenger at about 8pm

  • As cab stopped, passenger jumped into the front seat, robbed driver with sharp object

• NYPD requesting public help in tracking down suspect and stated the TLC driver reported no injuries from the incident

Up to 7 people wanted for carjacking Uber driver in Harlem, beating man in the Bronx

(CBS New York, published August 6, 2023)

• Passengers ordered 33 year old TLC driver to pull his 2022 Chevrolet SUV over before stealing vehicle, along with his wallet and iPhone, worth ~$1,100

  • Pickup happened on East 125th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem

  • Few blocks away at East 129th Street and Madison Avenue, group demanded driver pull over, pulling a knife, while another said they had a gun

  • Two suspects got out of the car and fled on foot, while five stayed in the car and drove off. The suspects are between 16 to 20 years old

• On July 29, NYPD said the same suspects beat and robbed a man, 34, near Walton Avenue and East 151st Street in the Concourse section of the Bronx

Inmate escapes hospital with makeshift rope, taxi getaway

(Fox News, published August 10, 2023)

• Yenchun Chen, who stands 6’ 3’’ and weighs 250 pounds, slipped Mount Sinai Beth Israel staff and Department of Correction officers by squeezing out of a bathroom window while left unsupervised to shower

• According to NYPD, after climbing down to a rooftop, Chen climbed a ladder down to the street below and hailed a yellow cab, which took him down 2nd Avenue

Three suspects attacked, robbed Uber driver in Queens: NYPD

(PIX 11, published August 20, 2023)

• The NYPD said three people attacked and robbed a 22-year-old Uber [TLC?] driver in Queens in the early morning hours of August 4th

  • The driver and two female passengers got into a fight before the victim pulled over near 99-49 Horace Harding Expressway around 5:30am

  • Suspects and an unknown man began repeatedly punching and kicking the driver in the body, according to NYPD

  • Suspects broke the window and dashcam after trying to steal vehicle, then took the victim’s wallet from the vehicle before fleeing

• The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment

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👮👮‍♀️🚓 For all the incidents above, you can submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)

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Unfortunately, violence against NYC passengers have also made headlines recently as well. On August 15th, 33 year old Massachusetts resident Marc Jensen was indicted for “assaulting an Asian couple as they waited on a sidewalk in Koreatown for an Uber to arrive”. The incident occurred on May 23rd around 1:30am.

“The couple was waiting for their ride on West 32nd Street in Midtown at around 1:30 a.m. when Jensen allegedly came up to them and spit in the wife’s face while yelling anti-Chinese comments at her, authorities said.

Jensen then allegedly pulled the husband, 39, out of the Uber and beat him up. The husband suffered cuts on his knee and forehead and hurt his elbow, prosecutors said. The wife, 39, was not physically assaulted, police said.

Jensen was arrested after police received an anonymous tip through the Crime Stoppers hotline, prosecutors said.”

- PIX 11

Jensen is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and two counts of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a misdemeanor hate crime.

Stay vigilant and safe out there!

As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or by emailing us at info@automarketplace.com.

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AutoMarketplace NYC covers the for-hire transportation industry and automotive news. Check out AutoMarketplace on YouTube ▶️