Uber is the preferred ride of choice for many people these days. It’s cheap, fast, and convenient. Plus, passengers feel important as their “personal driver” pulls up and takes them to their destination with ease. Well, you may want to think twice after reading this.
A 26-year-old woman in West Hollywood used the trusted Uber service, but never made it home after a night of bar-hopping in Los Angeles. Her driver was “off-duty” and drove her to his destination of choice, a motel 17 miles outside of Los Angeles. The driver, Frederick Dencer, picked up the woman outside of popular nightclub, Greystone Manor, but he did not use the detailed app that provides drivers with drop-off addresses. LAPD officials say the victim was too intoxicated to tell the driver her home address and he took advantage of that by taking her to a motel. The next morning, the victim fled to a nearby 7-Eleven to make a 6 a.m. phone call to police. Dencer has since been arrested for kidnapping for the purpose of sexual assault and the investigation is ongoing.
While this trendy car service seems to be trustworthy, its drivers may have other motives. Be sure to use the official app so that pick-up and drop-off locations are well-documented. Also, make sure your driver is “on-duty.” Uber has not released a statement.