Restaurant owners around New Jersey say that they are worried following several incidents of food delivery drivers being robbed.
The latest incident happened in Clifton. Police have arrested two people who attempted to rob a delivery driver at knifepoint.
Officials say 18-year-old Najim Wadud, of East Orange, and a 17-year-old girl from Newark are accused of ordering food to a fake address. Police say that when the driver arrived, the girl tried to get into the car while Wadud tapped on the car window with a knife.
Police say that the driver was able to drive off before the pair got into the car and went straight to the police department.
Similar incidents have happened in Belleville and Nutley.
The owners of a pizzeria in Nutley say they are glad that Wadud and the teen girl were arrested. But they say that they are still worried about the possibility of a robbery.
Nonno’s is a family-owned restaurant. Daughter Amanda, 28, takes orders, fills them and often drives delivery. But lately her father Vincent has been taking over the deliveries.
“Very nervous and afraid. I mean, she can’t defend herself,” Vincent says. “We are taking extra precautions now when it comes to deliveries.”
Those extra precautions include checking the address before leaving the shop to make sure it is legitimate. Drivers also are not allowed to carry cash. Orders are paid by card or exact change only.