Taxi Driver Online

Stolen Taxi Found; But Thief On Loose

18th September 2008

A taxi boss is delighted that a stolen month-old cab has been returned undamaged and with the takings still inside.

A taxi belonging to Mainsforth Terrace-based firm 23 Taxis was stolen after a passenger asked a driver for help and then made off in his £14,000 car, as the Mail reported last week.

The car, which still had the radio system intact and the driver's mobile phone and £60 takings inside, was recovered in Gateshead following a call to police from a member of the public.

The cabbie, who has not been named, had taken a man from the Premier Travel Inn, in Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, to the town's train station to catch a service to Newcastle shortly before 11pm on Tuesday of last week.

After arriving at the station, he got out of the black Skoda Octavia, locked it up and helped his passenger with a timetable that he was struggling to understand.

But the passenger swiped his keys, unlocked the car and drove off with the stunned driver looking on.

Taxi boss Dave Hudson said: "I am over the moon to have the car back.

I can't really get my head round it though because the car wasn't damaged and the takings, phone and data system were all inside.

"The driver was a bit shook up by what happened but he is still driving and delighted to have the car back.

"My drivers never leave the keys in their cars anyway but I have reminded them to be more vigilant and aware."

Police have confirmed that nobody has been arrested and they have issued another appeal for witnesses.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing for any witnesses to the incident and for any information about the car and the theft.

"The driver of the car described the man as an Asian male between 30 and 40-years-old."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on (01642) 302126, or Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555 111.


Source; Hartlepool Mail

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Brummie Cabbie.

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Perhaps they should check the local mental hospital.
Sounds like the act of a deranged mind.

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I'm thinking differently.

Was the taxi REALLY stolen?

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Brummie Cabbie.

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If it was an insurance job, they would have found nothing but a burnt out shell.

Unless the deranged mind belonged to the driver

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The whole story doesn't ring right with me!

It's not the driver's car for a start, so what does he care. The story seems flimsy to say the least. I mean;

'But the passenger swiped his keys, unlocked the car and drove off with the stunned driver looking on.'

FFS

Perhaps the driver was out on the lash took a cab home & then the next morning genuinely forgot where he had parked it.

Or he could have lent the car to a friend for a few days.

As I said, the story just does not ring right with me!

Perhaps it's me just being a cynic.

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Brummie Cabbie.

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if it was outside a railway station was there cctv footage ? I have heard of incidents of taxis being taken by drunks wanting a cheap taxi home so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the car was taken by someone doing that but swiping the keys ? hmmmmmmmmm keys left in ignition and driver too embarrassed to own up sounds more likely

I don't suppose that he filled it with fuel as well.

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Perhaps it was a TX4 and the thief changed his mind?

If it was an insurance job, they would have found nothing but a burnt out shell.

In which case it would have been found in a remote country lane near Kibblesworth, a couple of miles from Gateshead. Rumour has it the council are erecting a sign saying "Taxi burn-outs this way".