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Man tries to flee scene of robbery in self-driving Waymo taxi, doesn’t make it far

LAPD officers pursued the Waymo vehicle, which stopped a few miles from the store after detecting police sirens

LOS ANGELES – A man accused of robbing a grocery store tried to evade police using a self-driving Waymo vehicle, NBC 4 Los Angeles reported.

The incident began just before 10 p.m. on Jan. 6 at a Ralph’s grocery store when two individuals allegedly stole merchandise, according to the report. Security personnel confronted the pair, who fled — one on foot and the other by ordering a ride through Waymo’s autonomous car service.

Officers pursued the Waymo vehicle, which stopped a few miles from the store after detecting police sirens, according to the report. The suspect inside was taken into custody without further incident.

The second suspect was apprehended by Ralph’s security staff, according to the report.

The LAPD has not released the names of those involved in the robbery.

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com