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In the past week, two potential Grindr hookups ended with a carjacking, according to KTLA 5. In Adelanto, 24-year-old Victorville resident Steven Thomas met with his victim on Saturday and demanded the victim's wallet and car. He brandished a firearm in the process. In Victorville, 24-year-old Adelanto resident Allan Soto met up with his victim on Monday and forcibly stole the victim's car. The victims had "blindly met" up with the suspects using Grindr, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Both suspects were arrested within days.
According to the Times, a Grindr spokesperson responded to the crimes by saying, "As part of both joining the app, and on our page, we educate users on best practices around safety."
Reports of Grindr being used for criminal purposes have cropped up in the past, particularly abroad. Overseas, there have been reports of thieves and corrupt officials using the social apps to track and blackmail gay men, according to the L.A. Times. In countries where homosexuality is a punishable crime, this tactic is especially dangerous.
Inder Vhatwar, a fashion entreprenuer in Mumbai, said in the Times article that an acquaintance was ambushed by two men when he embarked on a Grindr meetup. His wallet, iPad and laptop were stolen, and the culprits "threatened to disclose the incident."
Using Grindr? Brush up on safe practices with the app's safety tips page.
