Tampa, Florida — It's a dangerous crime trend hitting Tampa, and it could be happening right outside your door.
"They're getting violently robbed at gunpoint throughout the city," says Tampa Police Deputy Chief Mary O'Connor.
More than a dozen food delivery drivers have been robbed in the city of Tampa in just four months. All of them held up many at gunpoint, fearing for their lives.
"You can be as aware of your surroundings as possible, but if it's a set-up and they're intent is to rob you, there's not much you can do about it," says former pizza deliveryman Jay MacGill.
He said he used to deliver pizzas four to five nights a week, and he knows the risks.
"Walking around delivering pizzas at night with a blue shirt that says, 'I carry cash'...there were times when I as not too thrilled about the position I was in," he says.
Now, Tampa Police say they're investigating 13 armed robberies of delivery drivers in just four months.
"[Drivers are] getting violently robbed at gunpoint throughout the city," says O'Connor.
Police said the most recent attack happened right at a dead end on North Fremont Street.
They say a pizza delivery driver was called out to an address that doesn't exist, a man came up to him and put a gun in his face asking for money.
Police said the driver was able to swat it away and leave the scene. But that driver is lucky, and Tampa Police are asking for your help.
"All of our leads are coming up for the most part empty-handed right now which is why we're reaching out to the community to try to get some assistance," O'Connor says.
And they're reaching out to the businesses that have been victimized, giving tips like trying to verify a location is real before heading out.
"If somebody in the community overhears somebody talking about one of these horrific acts, give us a call, remain anonymous and let us work on that tip," O'Connor says.
