Bradford Uber driver calls for CCTV after attacks on vehiclehttps://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... s-vehicle/AN Uber driver has called for CCTV cameras in an area of Bradford after his vehicle was attacked for the second time in just two weeks.
Mohammed Khan, 40, of BD2 was driving his vehicle along Harrogate Road, in Greengates on April 3 at around 8.45pm when a group of yobs, some wearing balaclavas, threw a brick at his vehicle as he got near Sainsbury’s.
Mr Khan, who has worked for seven years as an Uber driver, told the Telegraph & Argus he heard a “huge bang” and was “just in shock at what happened”.
He said: “Myself and the passenger were in shock and pretty distressed, especially as this had already happened to me a few weeks earlier.”
Mr Khan added: “I thought at the start ‘has it come through the window’, but luckily it didn’t come through the window.
“The passenger with me was just calm and said they threw a brick.
“It was lucky, I drove straight off.
“I looked back and there were 15 to 20 of them there.”
The brick left a big dent in Mr Khan’s car, but it could have been much worse.
He fears the window could have smashed, sending glass into his face.
"Anything could have happened," he added.
“Luckily it was the bodywork but not the windscreen – that’s the worst nightmare.
“The worst thing is, if I’d had my family, kids, wife with me.”
Mr Khan added: “Once before, when I was newly driving, the first or second year, the window was put through on Harrogate Road.
“I was driving towards Sainsbury’s, probably near Eccleshill Swimming Baths, they threw a brick straight through.
“I was in my own world, I didn’t realise.
“I did phone the police at that time but nobody turned up.”
The other, more recent attack happened on March 21, between 9.45pm and 10pm, when a group of youths in Ravenscliffe Avenue threw a brick at his car, which hit just above the petrol cap, according to Mr Khan.
He believes it is the same gang of teenagers and feels they “are clearly targeting taxis who are trying to make a living”.
Mr Khan told the T&A if he sees a job in that area “100 per cent I don’t want to take it” and feels anxious driving up Harrogate Road.
He said: “The thing is, we just need to be safe, people are going to stop going in there.”
Mr Khan added: “I used to work in Bradford, nearer to home, but now I’ve started to come to Leeds, it’s more safe.”
He believes there should be “CCTV cameras everywhere to find out who they are” and thinks people may start to feel they have to “take it into their own hands”.
He said: “I spoke to them [police], they can’t do anything about it because there’s no CCTV footage.”
Mr Khan added: “If this carries on it could lead to a serious injury or worse.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Police have recorded two reports of criminal damage following damage to a Lexus car in Ravenscliffe Avenue and Harrogate Road on 21 March and 3 April.
“The incidents were reported to have occurred between 9.45pm and 10pm on 21 March and 8.45pm and 8.50pm on 3 April.
“Anyone with information about either of these incidents is asked to contact police in Bradford on 101, or by using the livechat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.
“Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.”
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We work closely with the police and use our CCTV network where necessary to prevent, detect and reduce crime."
They said it was "awful" that he'd had such an experience and added: "We will work with the police to see what local intelligence, CCTV or other information may be available to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
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