Violent Gang That Stole From NYC Rideshare Drivers Arrested in Large Police Operation

An investigation into NYC Uber & Lyft robberies helped dismantle a violent gang responsible for several area shootings. Gang said to have stolen $6,500 from more than 50 drivers

(NY Daily News) An investigation into a rash of Uber and Lyft robberies led to the dismantling of a violent gang responsible for shootings that wounded innocent people, authorities said Tuesday.

The bust by Manhattan and Bronx prosecutors began with a single $750 theft from a Lyft driver in March 2020. Officials said the gang came up with a creative scheme to rob NYC rideshare drivers, who aren’t paid in cash. They allegedly tricked the drivers into handing over their cellphones by claiming they were having trouble entering a destination. The gangsters would then distract the driver and quickly transfer the victim’s in-app earnings to their own personal bank accounts using debit cards and mobile banking apps like Cash App, prosecutors said. The scheme earned four accused gang members $6,500 from more than 50 drivers, according to Manhattan DA Cy Vance.

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AutoMarketplace NYC Newsletter is written by Dawood Mian, Founder & CEO of AutoMarketplace. He covers the NYC for-hire transportation industry and related news. (New site AutoMarketplace.io to be launched soon, sign-up to the newsletter if you are interested to learn more ahead of launch)