Taxi Driver Online

When three men did a runner from a Shudehill taxi without paying, they hadn't counted on instant karma

Three men did a runner from a taxi without paying... and dropped £120 as they fled. The brilliant tale of Christmas karma was shared on Facebook by GMP’s City Centre team on Saturday.

They say that Mr Hameed, a private hire driver, dropped the men off at Shudehill at around 6pm on Friday night. But instead of handing over the fare for their journey into Manchester’s centre, they legged it, throwing stones at Mr Hameed’s car as they did, and damaging one of the windows.

The disheartened taxi driver rang police to report what had happened, but was not optismistic of a result. Little did he know however that an eagle-eyed off-duty officer from South Wales police had witnessed the entire thing – and spotted one of the men had left something behind.

Pc Evans, who was visiting Manchester, picked up the cash that had been dropped and called police, expecting the money to be booked in and never seen again. But just hours later, the Welsh PC Evans received a call from GMP City Centre’s PC Hilton.

He met up with the officer and Mr Hameed, and the £120 that had been left by the fare dodgers was handed straight over to the taxi driver. GMP City Centre’s post added: “No paperwork, no waiting for compensation at £5 per month, and Mr Hameed is back on the road with a smile on his face.

“It’s rare that we can get a result for taxi drivers in these circumstances, and if we do, it usually takes time or gets bogged down in policy and procedure. “We thought it would be nice to offer up some swift poetic justice, and £120 sounded about right for the fare and damage. “If it was your £120 and you think we’ve been unfair, please get in touch. We may get in touch anyway…”

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IDFIMH

I've had runners drop cash, phones and bank cards - did they get them back ?
Best was three lads on a booze run, 2 crates of beer and a bottle of vodka in the boot. As they legged it I shouted 'forgot something?' They got about 20 yds before waving frantically at me as I was driving off

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. I picked a guy up off the rank early one morning, I took him to the address where he did one. After waiting around and realised I'd been had I drove off. Ten minutes later I could hear a phone ringing, yep it was him. I answered it and said, "If you want this phone it will be booked in at the local Police station."

No better feeling than when scum who don't pay, or give you grief, leave their phones or valuables in the car.

Never happened to me ( ), but so I'm told.

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IDFIMH

I had one one night, New Romney to somewhere round the back of Folkestone, we stopped so he could buy a six pack of Stella, then he didn't have enough to pay me. I got out of the car and picked up his Stella. As I stared to drive off, he suddenly found he had some more money.

Karma, several months later, got a call from the same guy. Went round the High street for the pick-up, saw it was hm and drove straight past. He phoned up so I told him I wasn't going to take him, walk.