A Cambridge resident's plans to visit her cancer-stricken father in India were thwarted when a Lyft driver allegedly drove away with her luggage, including her passport and visa. Shreya Verma, 26, a Harvard University employee, was left stranded and unable to travel after the incident that unfolded on Friday evening, as per a report from NBC 10 Boston.
The ordeal began when Verma, after a few minutes into her ride, asked the driver to return to her home to retrieve headphones she had left behind. In a strange twist, upon her return, she found that the driver had canceled the trip and disappeared with all her possessions, including two suitcases and a bag containing her travel documents.
"I lost everything," Verma said in an interview with NBC 10 Boston. Left with no ride and without essential items, Verma immediately contacted Lyft's customer support and informed the Cambridge Police Department about the theft. However, due to the driver's abrupt ride cancellation, she could not provide the authorities with the vehicle information necessary for the investigation.
Following a post Verma made on LinkedIn about the experience that caught the attention of Lyft's CEO, the rideshare company issued an apology. "We are very sorry that Ms. Verma is going through this stressful situation and are actively trying to help resolve it for her," said a Lyft spokesperson in a statement obtained by the Boston Globe. The company also confirmed that the driver in question's account has been suspended and they are cooperating with law enforcement.
Police are in the process of securing a subpoena with the aid of the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, which would allow them to identify the driver through Lyft, according to Cambridge police spokesperson Robert Goulston. He mentioned in an interview with the Boston Globe that they are also trying to establish the driver's intent, and encouraged anyone with video or information to step forward. With her father's health and personal situation hanging in the balance, Verma's hope rests on the swift recovery of her belongings so she can reunite with her family during this critical time.
