Robbery Targeting Ride-Share Drivers in Berlin Raises Concerns

In a concerning series of events, two ride-share drivers in Berlin were robbed within a matter of hours, prompting an investigation by local authorities into potential links between the incidents.

The first incident occurred on a Sunday evening around 10:30 PM in the Fennpfuhl district of Lichtenberg. An unknown individual had ordered a large taxi capable of accommodating five passengers. Upon the driver's arrival at the designated location on Rudolf-Seiffert-Straße, the suspect forcefully opened the door behind the driver's seat, entered the vehicle, and proceeded to choke the driver from behind. Concurrently, four accomplices attempted to enter the taxi, but the driver managed to thwart their efforts by rapidly accelerating and then braking, causing the assailant to slide from the back seat to the front passenger seat. The assailant then fled the scene with the accomplices, while the driver escaped unharmed.

A few hours later, at approximately 1:30 AM, police were dispatched to a location in Gesundbrunnen in response to a separate robbery complaint. A 55-year-old ride-share driver reported that he had been robbed by two passengers he had transported from Adlershof S-Bahn station. The robbery unfolded in a deceptive manner; one of the passengers, seated in the back, pretended to prepare to pay, while the second passenger exited the vehicle and approached the driver's side to engage him in conversation. As the driver retrieved his wallet to provide change, the rear-seat passenger choked him from behind. The second accomplice then opened the driver's door and snatched the wallet before both suspects fled the scene. While the driver experienced shortness of breath following the incident, he did not require medical attention.

Authorities are continuing to investigate these robberies to determine if there is a connection between the two events, given the similarities in the methods employed by the perpetrators. The rise in such violent incidents against ride-share drivers has raised alarm among drivers and the public alike, highlighting the need for increased safety measures within the industry.