Police in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, are warning parents and teens after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly tricked into getting into a car she believed was an Uber.
According to Lansdale police, the frightening incident happened back in April on Main Street.
Investigators said 38-year-old Ryan Applegate stopped and told the teenage girl that he was the driver a friend had ordered for her. Believing him, the girl got into his vehicle.
But police said Applegate was not her rideshare driver.
Once she was inside the car, authorities said Applegate held the girl’s hand, grabbed her thigh, and tried to kiss her.
Police said he did drop the teen off at the correct location. However, days later, officials said he contacted her on Snapchat and asked her to smoke marijuana with him.
The case has prompted Lansdale police to issue a warning to families about rideshare safety, especially for teenagers who may be using Uber or similar services.
Lansdale Police Chief Ryan Devlin said parents should use the case as a reminder to talk with their children about how to confirm they are getting into the correct vehicle.
“Parents should be aware of where their children are,” Devlin told NBC10. “They should make sure that their cellphones are charged, that they know who their driver is, they know the vehicle is picking them up, they know which license plate is on the vehicle.”
The incident is a chilling reminder that teens should never get into a car just because someone claims to be their driver. Police are urging riders to check the driver’s name, vehicle description, and license plate before entering any rideshare vehicle.
For parents, the message is just as urgent: make sure your child knows exactly who is picking them up before they step inside.
