Uber Driver Refuses Passenger Over Alleged Shoplifting

An Uber driver in St. Joseph County refused to transport a passenger who allegedly shoplifted more than $1,300 in merchandise from a Walgreens. According to the police, officers responded to a theft report on Sunday at the Walgreens on State Route 933, where they found a woman removing stolen items from the backseat of an Uber vehicle into a shopping cart.

The Uber driver told police he was called to pick up the woman, who began loading a shopping cart full of items into his car when the manager informed him that “she stole that stuff.” The driver then said he would not transport her and told her to take the merchandise out of the car.

Store surveillance cameras show the woman adding items to a shopping cart, exiting the store without paying, and loading them into and out of the Uber driver’s vehicle. In addition to the cart full of items, police said the woman had a backpack full of cosmetics concealed underneath her clothing. She was arrested on theft charges and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail.

Under Indiana law, theft of merchandise valued between $750 and $50,000 is classified as a level 6 felony, which carries a potential prison sentence of six months to two and a half years and fines of up to $10,000. Individuals with a prior criminal history or previous convictions can face harsher punishments.

If you or a family member has been charged with a crime, contact Wilson & Kinsman, LLC at 574-522-1900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, we serve clients in Marshall, Lagrange, Kosciusko, Laporte, Porter, Lake, Noble, Whitley, Elkhart, and St. Joseph.