Three different Lyft drivers were carjacked at gunpoint in about two hours Friday evening by people who ordered rides in Bucktown, Wicker Park, and West Town, according to police reports. None of the drivers was injured. The hijackings may be related.
The first carjacking took place in the 1800 block of West Huron around 8:30 p.m. Police said a 33-year-old rideshare driver picked up two male passengers who ordered a ride. When they got into his car, one of them put a gun to the back of his head and ordered him out, police said.
Both offenders then pulled the driver from his gray 2018 Lexus RX 450h and drove away eastbound on Grand, according to CPD. According to police records, the hijackers arranged the ill-fated ride via the Lyft app.
Shortly before 10 p.m. in Wicker Park, another Lyft driver was carjacked by two men that ordered a pick-up in the 2200 block of West Potomac. Once again, the passengers got into the driver’s car, pointed a gun to his head, and ordered him out of the vehicle.
They took the driver’s 2014 Accura MDX, which was last ween westbound on Potomac.
Then, around 10:30 p.m., the third Lyft driver was carjacked by two men who requested a pick-up at Damen and Cortland in Bucktown. According to the driver, as soon as the two passengers got in, they pointed two guns at him and forced him from his black Lexus sedan.
The hijackers were last seen driving the stolen car westbound on Cortland.
All of the drivers said the carjackers were young Black males who may be in their teens. One driver said they wore all black clothing with white facemasks.
Rideshare drivers have become frequent targets for Chicago’s innumerable carjackers. The phenomenon began to take root last autumn and has only blossomed since then.
Police believe the offenders often use stolen phones to order up rides. Police have issued two community alerts about hijackers who target rideshare drivers in Wicker Park and Bucktown.
See more of CWB’s coverage of rideshare carjackings in the area here.
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