A 29 year old man has been taken to hospital after being found tied up and badly injured inside the boot of a car in Sydney’s south west prompting a major investigation by Cumberland detectives.
NSW Police said emergency services were called to a car park on Woodville Road at Villawood about 6.50am on Sunday after reports of a concern for welfare. Officers arriving at the scene found the man restrained inside the back of a Toyota sedan.
Paramedics treated him at the scene for stab wounds, burns and assault injuries to his legs and head before he was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Police also attended an unrelated matter at the same location after a mother accidentally locked her child in a car.
A crime scene has been established and detectives have begun inquiries into what police describe as a suspected kidnapping. Investigators believe the man was taken from Military Road at Guildford between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday.
The circumstances of the man’s abduction and how he came to be left in Villawood remain unclear and police have not announced any arrests or charges.
Several media outlets reported the vehicle involved had an Uber sticker on its rear window and raising questions about whether the car was being used as a rideshare at the time or whether the decal was unrelated to the attack.
NSW Police have described the vehicle only as a Toyota sedan and have not confirmed any connection to Uber or any other operator.
The incident is likely to sharpen attention on safety settings across the point to point transport sector, which covers taxis and booked hire vehicles such as rideshare services in NSW.
The state’s independent Point to Point Transport Commissioner regulates the industry including safety and compliance obligations for drivers and operators.
Under NSW guidance, passengers using a hire vehicle are advised to secure a booking before getting in, because the booking provides the details needed to identify the vehicle and driver.
The case lands in a broader environment where platform work, personal safety and enforcement capacity intersect.
Rideshare services have become a staple for late night travel and airport runs and have also become a focus for regulators working to balance convenience with public confidence, particularly after high profile violent incidents involving passenger services.
NSW Police are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity around Woodville Road in Villawood on Sunday morning or Military Road in Guildford on Saturday afternoon and to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
