inDrive operators are expressing deep concern about their safety following the robbery of a female driver in St Andrew last month.

The driver was robbed of her vehicle by two men posing as passengers sometime after 2 am after being booked for a pickup along Windsor Avenue.

It sparked fresh safety fears among those using the ride-sharing app to supplement their income.

Alrick, a Portmore-based driver who recently joined the app, told Observer Online that he avoids venturing into certain areas and rarely accepts trips outside Portmore due to safety concerns.

“Just as how the passengers are sceptic, that’s how me sceptic. Because there are certain areas definitely me nah go,” he said.

As a precautionary measure, Alrick said he refuses requests from passengers without profile pictures or with suspicious names.

“Most persons without a picture, I don’t normally take the ride, and certain names I see, I don’t look at the ride. You have some name weh you see put [names] like up El Chapo and them outrageous name deh, me no look at it,” he said.

Alrick also shared that he doesn’t work beyond 6 pm.

“As six o’clock come me stop work because me always tell the passenger, me really want to see where me a go because it’s very risky,” he said.

The risky nature of the business was highlighed in 2023 when a 26-year-old driver, Leroy Page, went missing while carrying out services in the Kingston and St Andrew area. He has still not been found.

Last month’s robbery of the driver has brought fears back to the forefront of the mind of driver Henry Myers.

“I am concerned about it,” Myers said, adding “I think inDrive should have some more security features in terms of a quick response team or something, because to be honest, I’m a person that really and truly, my safety comes first at all times.”

He explained that the risks he is willing to take during the day are not the same as those he is willing to take at night or when travelling into unfamiliar areas. To protect himself, he shares his live location with friends or relatives whenever he ventures into new communities.

Myers added that while the ride-hailing company prioritises passengers’ safety, drivers’ security is often overlooked.

“Just like how they are looking out for the passengers’ best interest, they need to look out for the drivers’ best interest as well, and clearly they’re not doing that,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Indrive for this article were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Commanding Officer for the St Andrew Central Division, Superintendent Mark Harris, told Observer Online that the incident is still under investigation, but no arrests have yet been made.

“We are picking up some leads during our investigation,” Harris said. “It doesn’t happen in the division frequently, but we have more than one report.”

He is urging operators who use ride-hailing services to be cautious about venturing into certain areas.

“Just be careful where you venture and always be on the alert for some of these suspicious calls at the areas where they are going,” he said.

Police statistics show that there have been a total of seven motor vehicles stolen this year with aggravation. The St Andrew Central division accounts for four of those cases, while St Andrew South has recorded two cases and St Catherine South one case.