INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD says there were two armed carjackings Monday and Tuesday night at the intersection of East 35th Street and Kinnear Avenue. Saturday morning, there was another armed carjacking just down the street.
13News spoke to two of the three of those victims who say they were driving for Uber when they were robbed at gunpoint.
Monday night's victim was on his last ride of the night Monday and thought he was picking up an Uber passenger.
"I was at the intersection of 35th and Kinnear," said the victim, who didn't want to provide his name. "I pulled up and the guy got in the back of my car, and I heard him say, 'I'm going to need you to get out.' I turned around and looked and he's pointing a gun at me, and he says, 'Get out now or I'm going to blow your brains out.' Then my driver door opens up and there's another guy standing there and he's telling me to get out."
Early Saturday morning, just down the street, a different Uber driver said he was attempting to pick up a passeneger when he was carjacked by two men wearing masks.
Tuesday night, at 35th and Kinnear, was another carjacking. IMPD would not confirm if Tuesday night's victim was a rideshare driver.
Monday's victim got his car back, but said he won't be using it to pick up strangers.
"Oh yeah, I'm not doing it anymore," he said.
He told 13News the thieves made off with his handgun and sunglasses and did some minor damage to the car.
"At the time, I really wasn’t frightened or shocked I was just kind of surprised it was happening," he said. "Police found the car the next day. I got in and all my stuff is all over the floorboard and everything and I think that’s when I felt violated for the first time."
"With rideshare drivers, we urge them to have caution," said IMPD Lt. Shane Foley. "To know who’s actually getting in the vehicle, the person who they’re riding with and if they ever feel unsafe, that they don’t have to accept those rides."
"You just kind of question the type of person who would do this, because they're targeting people that don't have a lot of money," said Monday night's victim.
IMPD hasn't announced any arrests in this case. If you have any information, you're asked to reach out to IMPD or submit a tip anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS.