In the early morning quiet of New Orleans’ Desire neighborhood, an Uber run turned into an armed stickup when a driver was robbed and carjacked at gunpoint, according to police. Investigators say the driver was flagged down around 5:19 a.m. Saturday near Agriculture Street and Edith Weston Place. After one person called the driver to the location, a second individual reportedly appeared from behind a house holding a handgun.
Faced with the weapon, the victim handed over the keys. The two suspects then took off in the driver’s 2026 black Chevy Trailblazer, police said. As reported by WGNO, New Orleans police are still working to identify the suspects.
Rideshare Thefts Keep Mounting Across the City
This latest attack adds to a growing list of rideshare-related thefts and carjackings reported in New Orleans in recent months. Local outlets have documented similar incidents across several neighborhoods.
WDSU detailed a March carjacking in Bayou St. John, where two masked suspects allegedly smashed a window and sped off with a woman’s vehicle. In another case, a string of vehicle takeovers and armed robberies has been tracked in the region this year, adding to driver anxiety about late-night and early-morning trips.
Police Seek Tips as Drivers Urged to Stay Wary
NOPD detectives are investigating the Desire neighborhood carjacking and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Tipsters can contact police directly or submit anonymous information through Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans.
Crime Stoppers provides an online tip form and a hotline for anonymous reports. Meanwhile, Uber drivers and residents are being reminded to report suspicious behavior and to stay cautious when meeting riders in darker or more isolated spots, especially during the overnight and early-morning hours.
