TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Police are searching for multiple people who reportedly lured pizza delivery drivers to a Tampa neighborhood and robbed them.
Police said the two incidents happened this week in the same neighborhood near the 2200 block of Osbourne Avenue. One incident happened on Oct. 17. Police said a delivery order was placed at a Papa Johns for an apartment unit that does not exist.
When the driver arrived, the “customer” called, and told them to just drive to the back of the apartment complex. That’s where police say four juveniles were waiting for the driver, one of them armed with a knife.
Police said one of the juveniles grabbed the order from the driver, and they all left the area. Investigators said the other incident involved a Domino’s delivery driver the day before, and occurred in the same neighborhood.
Now, people who have to make these deliveries are on alert.
Over at Precinct Pizza, employees say they’re saddened to see that people are putting delivery drivers in danger.
“It’s worrisome that people have decided to target those just trying to get by,” said Andrew Remaili from the restaurant. “It’s just sad to hear. It’s people who are just trying to do their job.”
Precinct Pizza had a scare of its own on Friday.
Omar Aladwan says he got a delivery request to a desolate location that didn’t feel safe. When he arrived, no one was there.
“They said ‘Okay just wait there, we’ll be there in five minutes,’” he said, describing his conversation with the person who placed the order. “I said ‘Okay,’ but I absolutely couldn’t wait in the middle of nowhere for people I don’t know.”
Now that he’s learned about the pair of robberies this week, he’s happy to have followed his intuition.
Tampa Police Department recommended some safety tips for delivery drivers and customers to follow when they’re handling these orders.
For Delivery Drivers:
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Be cautious of delivery locations that appear unsafe (vacant lots, no lights, no yard maintenance, etc.)
- When in doubt, do not leave your vehicle. Drive to the nearest safe location and call, or return to, your store to obtain further instructions from your manager
- Trust your instincts. If something does not look or feel right, do not make the delivery, immediately return to your store, or go to the nearest safe location
- You should not be redirected to a different address or location after the original order is placed
- Always have your cell phone nearby and don’t hesitate to call 911 in the event you feel threatened or see something suspicious
- Consider installing cameras in your car
For Customers:
- Provide clear instructions on where to drop off your order if you do not plan on meeting face-to-face
- Ensure the drop area off is well-lit, for your safety and the driver’s safety