Taxi Driver Online

27 Worcester taxis targeted by thieves and vandals in 6 days

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/18 ... ls-6-days/

TWENTY-SEVEN taxi drivers in Worcester say their vehicles have been targeted by thieves or vandals in the past six days.

The victims, who are members of the Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, say the spate of offences began on Saturday February 1 and continued last week.

Gafoor Hussain, of Humber Road, told the Worcester News that his taxi was broken into on his driveway at 4.30am on Monday, February 3, with £30 stolen.

Mr Hussain said: “It’s been happening all over Worcester. Taxis are being targeted. They’re stealing our dash cams, sat-navs, money and any valuables.

“It has gone wild. They shatter the car windows – they must be using a hammer or something sharp.”

Taxi roof signs, sat-navs, dash cams, cash and other valuables have also been reported stolen.

The spate of attacks happened across the city – including Warndon, Northwick, Battenhall and Tolladine.

Muhammad Kamran, from Ronkswood, said his taxi was vandalised overnight on Wednesday, February 5, while it was parked on his driveway in Canterbury Road.

Mr Kamran, aged 29, added: “I think people break into taxis in the hope to steal something valuable.

“My Mrs has not been put in a good position. She is now scared after it happened. It can always happen again.

“The thing that I’ve learnt is to not lock the taxi and to take any valuables out of the vehicle. If the taxi is already open, then hopefully it will deter people from smashing a window.”

He claims his neighbour’s taxi was also vandalised: “My neighbour was about to go out on a job at around 5am when he saw that his taxi was vandalised and there was glass all over the floor.

“He then checked my taxi and noticed the window had been smashed. My glove box is completely damaged and broken into two pieces. Paperwork and everything else were left on the floor.”

Mr Kamran said he has been a taxi driver for four years and has never seen anything like this before.

Mohammed Sajad, a member of the Worcester Taxi Drivers Association, added: “The police need to find these people. Whenever they see a taxi, they break into it. Something needs to be done.

“It’s causing an inconvenience to drivers who then must fork out hundreds of pounds on repairs.

“I always take my roof sign off when I park because then you can’t tell it’s a taxi.”

Police are investigating the offences and ask any members of the public who may have helpful information to get in touch.

If you saw anything suspicious or have CCTV footage to show the police, call them on 101 and quote the crime reference number 22/11800/20.

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IDFIMH

If I was a gambling person, I would bet that the first taxi broken into had loads of cash, maybe a phone or PDA, and some other valuables in.

Which upped the juices of the scumbag thieves, leading them to break into the other 26.

A lesson to us all.

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IDFIMH

Well if you leave sat-navs, dashcams, PDAs and cash in the car then they may have a point


Hope he's told his insurers he leaves his car unlocked overnight

So now the scrotes will be assuming that taxis are left unlocked at night?


So even if the door is left open and valuables removed, they can still do a lot of damage


Yes, I'm sure that's a clincher

Seriously, though, the trade in Bury and Leeds are claiming that the scotes can see a PHV a mile off because of the plates and markings, so somehow I doubt taking the roofsign off a cab is the end of the story as regards being targeted for robbery.

Of course, no easy answers to this kind of thing, but I'm wondering if the stuff in this article is doing more harm than good

Leave no valuables in the car. It's quite simple.

The scum will turn their attention to richer pickings if they get nothing of value from us.

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IDFIMH