Police probe reported abduction in Upper Darby
UPPER DARBY » A 31-year-old woman is home safe after she claims a Lyft driver abducted, robbed and then forcibly dragged her out of his car early Wednesday morning.
The woman and her 21-year-old sister allege they requested a car from the Lyft rideshare service in downtown Philadelphia after a night partying for a friend’s birthday — but neither reached their destination.
During a pitstop at the Sunoco A-Plus convenience store at 8203 West Chester Pike in Upper Darby, the younger sister at the request of the driver went inside to grab a bottle of water, the women said. When she returned outside, the driver and her sister were gone.
An exhaustive search for the missing sister conducted by the Upper Darby Police Department of all known locations for the woman ended when the 31-yearold called 911 from a 7-Eleven in Olney saying the driver had abducted her, stolen her cell phone and debit card and then dragged her out of the car.
“She was scared, afraid, but lucky,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood on Wednesday after the woman was reunited with family.
The driver, described as a black male between the ages of 25 and 30, was driving a black four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan, and spoke with an unknown African accent, the victims claim.
Chitwood said the women had been drinking and were intoxicated leaving the Voyeur nightclub at 1221 St. James Place in Center City Philadelphia.
“The 21-year-old got a couple slices of pizza and the two got in the back with the driver in front,” Chitwood said. “They were heading to Havertown where the 31-year-old has relatives.”
The victims claim that the driver had a few unusual requests — first to stop for matches, and then later for the younger sister to buy him a bottle of water so he could take medication.
“The 21-year-old claims the driver said, ‘Do you mind if I smoke? I need matches,’” Chitwood said. However, the minimarket on the first stop was closed. “They kept going on West Chester Pike until they hit the APlus.”
The 21-year-old said the driver gave her cash to buy a bottle of water.
“She goes into the location, and the car didn’t pull into the light, so there’s no video of the vehicle,” Chitwood said. “However, we have video of her going inside and coming out with water (when) the driver and her sister are gone.”
Chitwood said the 31-year-old may have fallen asleep while the man drove from the A-Plus in Upper Darby to 100 W. Champlost St. in the Olney section of North Philadelphia where he demanded her cell phone, debit card and pin number before forcibly dragging her out of the car.
“She was not injured. He dragged her out of the car and then drove off,” Chitwood said.
The 31-year-old called 911 from the 7-Eleven on West Champlost Street where she spoke with Philadelphia olice around 4:50 a.m. The driver had stolen her debit card and cell phone, which would have had the information of the Lyft request on it.
“She was adamant it was a Lyft driver,” Chitwood said.
Lyft released a statement saying it has no data for the trip.
“We have searched our system and there does not appear to be a Lyft ride matching the time, location, or vehicle description provided in these reports,” Lyft released in a statement. “We have been in touch with law enforcement and will continue to assist their investigation.”
Chitwood, however, said he was “very happy with the way the investigation is going.”
The driver, if found, will be charged with abduction and robbery, Chitwood said.