Palo Alto: Police investigate attempted carjacking of rideshare driver

Would-be carjackers attacked a rideshare driver’s vehicle early Monday in an attempt to steal it, but the driver escaped unharmed, Palo Alto police said.

The victim was not injured.

Authorities said in a news release Wednesday that the man had been driving alone to pick up a rider on Forest Avenue when an older-model white van pulled up next to him. Three men approached his car, yelling at him to exit the vehicle.

The driver locked his car as one carjacker began to hit it with a metal rod and another pounded on the window with his hand while trying to open the door, police said.

The driver pulled around the white van and was able to drive away from the carjackers, authorities said. The trio pursued him in their van but eventually abandoned the chase. The victim stopped to call police around the 100 block of University Avenue.

Authorities believe that the incident began around the Crescent Park neighborhood, but the victim was not familiar enough with the area to provide precise locations. The driver reported that they had no previous interactions with the carjackers’ vehicle.

The victim’s vehicle suffered moderate damage from the metal rod. Police said they were not aware of any recent similar incidents.