Man arrested for trying to steal Waymo robotaxi in downtown Los Angeles

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A reportedly homeless man was arrested after authorities say he tried to steal a fully autonomous vehicle in downtown Los Angeles.

The Waymo vehicle, a white Jaguar sedan, had just dropped off a passenger near Main and 1st streets when 33-year-old Vincent Maurice Jones got in Saturday night.

According to a report from the L.A. Times, Jones is homeless but police could not confirm that.

Police say he managed to get inside the vehicle but was unable to work the controls.

Waymo’s communication system warned him to get out before calling the police. Jones was arrested for attempted grand theft auto.

The incident came just days after California authorized the company to expand services of its fleet of robotaxis in L.A. That gave the company the green light to deploy its robotaxis on local roads and freeways at speeds up to 65 miles per hour.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.