WASHINGTON — People who thought they were getting into a rideshare car just after midnight Sunday found themselves locked in a car and forced at gunpoint to take money out of an ATM.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are now searching for the suspect vehicle after it was caught on surveillance video.
According to police, the kidnapping and armed robbery happened around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 1, in the 600 block of Florida Avenue, Northwest.
That's when the victims got into a car believing it was a rideshare vehicle. During the ride, the suspects produced a handgun, locked the doors of the vehicle, took cell phones from both victims and a watch from the second victim, officials said. The suspects drove the victims around and demanded they take money out of an ATM. The victims complied and the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
One of the victims managed to escape after they unlocked the car doors from the drivers side while the two suspects were outside of the vehicle onthe 5400 block of New Hampshire Ave. While attempting to get away, one of the suspects grabbed the victim's shirt before the victim was able to escape, according to officials.
The suspects later drove away southbound on the 5400 block of New Hampshire Ave. with the second victim still in the car. The suspects later released the second victim in Prince George's County, according to officials.
That vehicle is described by police as a white Dodge Charger. It was captured on surveillance video. A photo can be seen below.
Police did not say how much money the suspects got away with.
Anyone who can help identify the suspects or the vehicle is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
Both Uber and Lyft ask riders to double check the license plates of their rideshare vehicles before getting inside. Once you are matched with a driver on the app, you'll be able to see a name, photo, and license plate number of your driver in the apps.