An Uber driver who was handcuffed to the steering wheel of her car during a robbery on the Gold Coast says her assailant apologised to her after the incident.
Melissa Pill, 39, suffered minor bruising after being briefly handcuffed by a man wearing a mask and brandishing a knife on Saturday night.
Police say the man got into Ms Pill’s car around 8.45pm in the Gold Coast suburb of Biggera Waters, telling her to drive to the nearby Harbour Town shopping centre.
On the way he got her to stop the car and ordered her to hand over money.
Melissa Pill, 39, suffered minor bruising after being briefly handcuffed by a man wearing a mask and brandishing a knife on Saturday night
After being given a small amount of cash, just $10, the man handcuffed Ms Pill to the steering wheel as he began to search for more money
After being given a small amount of cash, just $10, the man handcuffed Ms Pill to the steering wheel as he began to search for more money.
Not finding any he then removed the handcuffs and demanded she drive to Labrador.
He then jumped out of the vehicle and was last seen walking through a playground near Broadwater.
Before he departed the man actually apologised to Ms Pill for the incident.
He then jumped out of the vehicle and was last seen walking through a playground near Broadwater. Before he departed the man actually apologised to Ms Pill for the incident
The 39-year-old was parked in her car in Biggera Waters in Queensland (pictured) at 8.45pm on Saturday when a masked man hopped into the passenger seat and demanded she drive to a nearby street
He then forced the woman to pull over where he handcuffed her to the wheel and demanded cash, before searching the car himself, Nine News reports (Map of Uber driver’s route pictured)
Ms Pill said she had only been driving for Uber for four days and won’t be doing it anymore.
‘I want girls to know they shouldn’t be out there Uber driving that late,’ she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘Maybe try Shebah and even men, as well, should be careful,’ she said, referring to the ride-sharing service for women.
She said the man stole $10 she kept in a sunglass compartment in the car and some coins.
Police said the man booked an Uber fare and said there was no reason for drivers with the ride-sharing service to feel at any more risk than other road users.
The man was last seen wearing a chilling Grim Reaper mask (stock image) crossing a playground near Frank Street in Labrador heading towards the water
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Dane Sheraton said taking simple precautions when alone in a vehicle was the best advice that could be given.
‘There’s certainly no concerning crime trend as far as we can see,’ Det Snr Sgt Sheraton said.
‘Any measures people can take to make themselves and their vehicles more secure, we certainly recommend and if you are in a vehicle by yourself you are going to be more secure if the doors are locked.’
The man is described as a Caucasian in his early 20s with a fair complexion.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the suburbs mentioned to contact them.