Sympathy seems to be in short supply for some drivers who got carjacked in Burnaby in recent days.
Burnaby RCMP detailed four disturbing incidents that happened during a five-day period.
Three out of four carjackings involved illegal rideshare drivers who were summoned using Chinese ride-hailing apps, police said.
“These drivers deserve it for not following the rules,” wrote one NOW reader after finding out story on the carjackings, which were committed using knives and guns. “These apps are registered to operate in our city so why should I feel any sympathy.”
This person wasn't the only one to message me with a total lack of sympathy.
Um, nobody deserves to get dragged out of a vehicle at gunpoint, you heartless jerks. One thing doesn’t have anything to do with the other.
I get that there are concerns about unregulated drivers in our city. Burnaby RCMP officers have been part of a steady crackdown on these drivers that have netted tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
But that’s one issue that doesn’t mean these drivers deserve to be terrorized by criminals.
“Our investigators believe these four incidents are connected, but the motive is not yet known," Burnaby RCMP Media Spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in a news release. "We are asking all drivers to be cautious, including rideshare drivers from all services. It’s concerning that weapons were brandished in each of these cases, and that the suspects claimed to be police to two of the victims. We want everyone who drives in Burnaby to be aware of these incidents.”
For the record, here are more details on the incidents.
Incident number 1
On Sunday Feb. 13, 2022, on Spruce Street between Canada Way and Royal Oak Avenue, police say two suspects described as teenagers, brandished a knife at a rideshare driver who was called to the area for pickup.
The suspects claimed to be police officers before taking the vehicle.
Police say the vehicle was later recovered in the Highgate area.
Incident number 2
At roughly 3 p.m. on Feb. 15, a suspect brandished a gun and tried to steal a vehicle with the driver still inside in a garage near Burford Street and Imperial Avenue.
The suspect was not successful and fled the area.
Police say the victim in the incident was not a rideshare driver.
Incident number 3
On Feb. 15, 2022, at 11:30 p.m., a suspect targeted a rideshare vehicle that was stopping to pick up a customer. A knife was brandished at the driver and the suspect claimed to be a police officer before stealing a 2015 black Audi S4.
The vehicle has not been found.
Incident number 4
On Feb. 17 at around 11 p.m. on Elwell Street, a Mercedes was stolen from a rideshare driver on his way to pick up a customer, with a knife brandished by the suspect.
Shortly after, the stolen car was involved in a hit and run that damaged a parked vehicle. Police say witnesses reported the suspect fleeing into a waiting SUV with several other people inside.
Anyone with information is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999 and quote file number 22-5696.
- With additional reporting by Jess Balzer
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
