Cartels and Death Threats: The Dangers Being an Instacart Driver in Florida
Being an Instacart driver might seem like a safe and easy gig. I can work when I want to or hang around the snack isle at my favorite Cape Coral publix. However, lurking beneath the convenience and seemingly mundane grocery lists is a potential world of danger. And not just the temptation of all the extra snacking either.
One second you’re cruising down a street in Golden Gates, grocery bags neatly arranged in your car, when suddenly, a stranger decides to hop into your vehicle uninvited. That actually just happened to an unsuspecting Instacart driver. Now, I know ride-sharing apps have made getting into strangers’ cars somewhat acceptable, but this was a grocery delivery.
The unwanted passenger, According to NBC2, was identified as Charles Bertranou. He claimed to be with the cartel and casually dropped a threat to kill the Instacart driver. This poor diver’s latest gig wasn’t just bizarre but downright threatening.
Now, in the world of Instacart deliveries, a claim of cartel affiliation and a death threat isn’t exactly the kind of tip I would hope to receive. Luckily the Collier County deputies showed up just as Bertranou continued outside the car, shouting typical lunatic stuff.
Crazy Instacart Order:
The cops demanded Bertranou show his hands, he not only refused but also managed to shake off a jolt from a taser like it was nothing. Great. Just what you need to deal with, a super powered lunatic. Unfortunately, this is when the suspect decided to make a run for it. That’s when a good old-fashioned chase was on.
After a punch in the nose to one of the deputies, the insane super-nut was tackled and arrested. All in a days work. The very act of being an Instacart driver requires interacting with an assortment of strangers, and not everyone has the friendliest intentions. From agitated customers upset about the wrong brand of kale to potential taser immune cartel members. You just never know what the next gig might bring.
It’s a reminder that in the gig economy, even the most ordinary jobs can come with a side of unpredictability and, at times, real danger. As for me? I’ll stick with hosting Karaoke. The only scary thing I have to worry about is the singing.
10 Southwest Florida Side Hustles To Help Pay Off Those Holiday Bills
It’s the holiday season and there’s one thing we probably all have in common. We spent more than we should have and ran up the credit cards. Another thing coming up on Florida homeowners is when the mortgage company factors in the much higher insurance premiums into your monthly mortgage payment. My ‘escrow’ part of my mortgage payment is higher than my principle and interest combined. If you’re a renter, you may have already been hit with a rent increase to start the new year. With all these bills increasing, we’re going to need some Southwest Florida side hustles to help. We’re going to need to find a way to make some more money.
There’s plenty of resources online for side hustles on sites like gobankingrates, CNBC, and others, but those are more on a national level. I wanted a list that was more specific to those in Florida, and more specifically, Southwest Florida. I’ve compiled 10 different ideas that work for us. In some cases, I’ve even added a story of someone already doing it. This isn’t a list of how to find a different job. It’s some ideas on ways to find another job. I’ve even included one of my side hustles onto this list. We’re all just trying to get by. Myself included.
There’s so many things to do in this town that fall outside the realm of a ‘regular job.’ Remember back during COVID and people were lining up at Hammond Stadium to get jabbed? People working at those booths were doing it as a side job. There’s a lot of Southwest Florida side hustles if you keep your eyes open and be open to new adventures.
10 Southwest Florida Side Hustles To Help Pay Off Those Holiday Bills
And this is not definitive. Treat this more as an idea starter. If you can come up with a niche that no one else is doing, your side hustle could out earn your main job. But a basic rule to remember, don’t focus so much on your side job that you jeopardize your main job.
Meet Budman, dynamic host of Marconi Award winning radio station WXKB's WiLD Bunch Morning Show, on B1039. Budman likes to write about funny news, a good Florida man story, stupid criminals or anything involving a superhero. Budman, a comic book and pop culture enthusiast, even named his daughter Kara Zor-El, after Supergirl. His only child is his true passion beyond the mic. Being a dad is his favorite role. Budman, a true family man, balances his love for radio with quality time spent with loved ones and his trusty dogs.
