A Florida Uber driver is accused of utilizing a stolen rental automobile to offer rides after which leaving the automobile operating for weeks to keep away from it being disabled, deputies stated.
The 27-year-old Uber driver was renting a Chevy Equinox from an organization in Orange County when he stopped making funds, in accordance with an Oct. 26 information launch from the Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace.
The rental firm reported the car as stolen, deputies stated, and referred to as the motive force daily concerning the lacking funds.
The corporate had put in units of their rental autos that may very well be remotely activated to cease the automobile from restarting within the case that somebody stopped paying for the car, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
However the driver knew about this characteristic, so as a substitute of returning the Equinox or making the funds, he selected to depart the car operating for “three straight weeks” to forestall it being disabled, in accordance with the discharge.
Throughout that point, he was utilizing the automobile to drive for Uber, together with on the evening of Oct. 24, deputies stated.
The motive force was taking a pair visiting from the UK to their lodging the place they’d be attending their very own wedding ceremony per week later, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
A Polk County deputy noticed the car because it drove down the street in Davenport, Florida, and famous it was registered as stolen, in accordance with the discharge.
The deputy referred to as in backup and surrounded the motive force with their patrol automobiles, stopping him from getting away, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
The 27-year-old was arrested and charged with grand theft motorcar and driving whereas license suspended or revoked, in accordance with authorities.
The couple, now left stranded, was given a trip by deputies after posing for a photograph.
Davenport is about 35 miles southwest of Orlando.
