Suspects arrested after robbery in unlicensed ride-share vehicle

April 28, 2025

Two people have been arrested after the female passenger in an unlicensed ride-sharing vehicle was held against her will and was the victim of a robbery and sexual assault

The Thunder Bay Police Service received a report that an adult female had arranged for a ride through a group chat just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. Upon entering the vehicle, the victim had been threatened with a weapon by another occupant. The victim was threatened to cooperate and surrender personal items of value, in addition to e-transferring funds.

 

After completing the transfer, the victim was able to exit the vehicle. A short time later, she attended the police station to report the incident.

 

Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service Break and Enter and Robbery (BEAR) Unit became involved in the investigation.

 

Investigative efforts led to two suspects being identified and arrested on Friday, April 25.

 

Safwaan MANSURI, 23, is charged with the following:

•             Robbery with a Firearm

•             Forcible Confinement

•             Uttering Threats to Cause Death

•             Disguise with Intent

•             Sexual Assault with a Weapon

 

Harsh JETHAVA, 21, is charged with the following:

•             Robbery with a Firearm

•             Forcible Confinement

•             Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

 

The accused have appeared in court and been remanded in custody with future appearance dates.

 

The Thunder Bay Police Service urges members of the public to be cautious about utilizing unlicensed ride-sharing services. If you believe you were the victim or witness of a similar incident, please contact investigators at (807) 684-1200. If you have information that could assist investigators and want to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com.

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FRAUD FRIDAY: Account security

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The Thunder Bay Police Service is continuing to provide advice to the public on how to avoid being victimized by fraud. Police are encouraging people to take steps to safeguard their accounts to prevent potential scammers from gaining access. One important way to keep accounts secure is to protect ID and password information. Some recommended best practices include choosing a strong password with a combination of numbers, letters and symbols, and to use unique passwords for financial, email, and social media accounts. As well, it’s important to regularly monitor financial accounts to be able to detect any nefarious activity as quickly as possible and to report any breaches to your financial institution immediately.  The Thunder Bay Police Service’s Economic Crime Unit urges residents to speak to family members and friends who may be vulnerable to being targeted by fraud. Prevention is the best protection against fraud. If you are concerned about potential scams and want to learn more, please visit https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/safety/fraud-prevention or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre ( http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/ ) To make a fraud/cyber crime online report to the Thunder Bay Police Service, please visit: https://www.services.tryrubicon.com/thunder-bay-police-service/online-reports/report/fraud-cybercrime