Waymo stopped a man from stealing a driverless car

Waymo, the ride-hailing service owned by Alphabet, successfully thwarted an attempted theft of one of its driverless electric Jaguars in Los Angeles on Thursday morning. According to reports from CBS News and the Los Angeles Times, the LAPD responded to calls regarding the incident shortly after midnight, finding a man in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

The individual, suspected to be under the influence, managed to enter the vehicle through the passenger side before sliding over to the driver's seat. Under normal circumstances, Waymo's cars operate in fully autonomous mode without anyone in the driver's seat, except for occasional tests by company employees.

Waymo has designed its vehicles to prevent unauthorized drivers from overriding the automated driving system. The cars are equipped with features to enhance security, including the ability to maneuver evasively, sound the horn, alert authorities, and retract door handles to prevent entry.

When someone attempts to access the driver's seat, Waymo's rider support team is automatically notified and can request that the individual vacate the car. If the person does not comply, as in this case, law enforcement will be notified. Out of the five million rides Waymo has provided, the company stated that only a few theft attempts have occurred.

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are currently operational in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, with plans to expand to Austin, Atlanta, and Miami soon, as noted on their website.