BOSTON/WORCESTER — Police in Massachusetts are offering tips and precautions when using ride-sharing apps after a man is accused of a disturbing crime.
Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said a Worcester man was charged with raping a woman who thought he was an Uber driver in downtown Boston early Saturday morning in the Central Division of Boston Municipal Court, and a Worcester man was arrested for $10,000. It was announced that he was being held on bail.
Kabel Najeeb, 29, was charged with one count of rape and ordered to wear a GPS bracelet and abide by a 10pm to 6am curfew if released on bail. She plans to reappear in court for a probable cause hearing on Nov. 15.
At approximately 4:47 a.m. Saturday, Boston police responded to Border Street in East Boston and spoke with a woman who said she had ordered an Uber several hours earlier while leaving a downtown nightclub. Her original Uber was then cancelled. The 32-year-old woman then got into another car, she said, thinking it was an Uber. The driver, later identified as Najeeb, drove past Boston Common and stopped the car between several buildings near Straw Drive. There, the driver raped the woman. After the assault, he dropped the victim off at Border Street.
Investigators used surveillance footage and a description provided by the victim to identify the blue Toyota Corolla and the driver, Najeeb. Mr Najeeb was arrested on Sunday.
“This is a horrific incident involving a woman who got into her car knowing full well that she would be delivered home safely, and a driver who took advantage of the victim and the situation. This is the beginning of a process that seeks justice. We will continue to stand by this victim during this difficult time and beyond,” Hayden said.
The Worcester Police Department is advising area residents to use caution when using ride-sharing apps. To prevent an individual from posting as her Uber or Lyft driver, please do the following:
1. Make sure the driver’s face and license plate match what’s shown in the app. Ask the driver to confirm your name and tell you who he is picking up.
2. If possible, travel together. If that’s not possible, tell a friend or loved one.
3. Sit in the back seat instead of the front seat.
4. Trust your intuition. If something feels “different,” it probably is.
5. Have your cell phone handy in case you need to call 911.
Victims of any crime, including domestic violence or sexual assault, should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, her statewide domestic violence hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. At SafeLink, trained personnel are available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. You can also reach us via TTY (870-521-2601). It also has the ability to provide multilingual translations in over 140 languages. Help is also available at www.janedoe.org/findhelp.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner violence can also receive assistance through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901.