Taxi Driver Online

Please note that police aren't using the phrase 'plying for hire' here, but that's what I assume he's doing.


Thief driving stolen Swindon taxi offering lifts to unsuspecting passengers

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... assengers/

A THIEF is giving lifts to unsuspecting passengers in Swindon after stealing a taxi.

The taxi was stolen from an Old Town address on Friday and the suspect - a man posing as a legitimate driver - was reported to police.

Those who travelled with him in the black Ford Allied Procab said he was 'acting in an aggressive and threatening way' and 'driving erratically'.

The taxi's registration is SF18 ATV and the licensed taxi number is 346.

Wiltshire Police said people travelling by taxi in the town should ask for photographic ID, or to call the taxi company if they have any doubts about the identity of the driver.

A spokesman said: “We are carrying out enquiries following the theft of a taxi from outside an address in Swindon.

“It was stolen from Springfield Road overnight between Friday (November 5) and Saturday (November 6) and was reported stolen on the Saturday morning.

“We have since received a report of the possible thief driving the taxi, a black Ford Allied Procab, and using it to pose as a taxi driver and pick up customers.

“These people reported that the driver was acting in an aggressive and threatening way, as well as driving erratically, but thankfully they were not injured.

“We are investigating both the theft and the subsequent incident involving the man posing as a taxi driver.

“Please note that anyone wishing to verify the identity of any taxi driver can request to see photographic ID, or they can call the taxi company directly to confirm details and information.

“Anyone with information about the theft or anyone who has seen the stolen taxi should call Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference 54210108220. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

Not entirely clear if it's an HC or PHV, but he's presumably plying for hire, in which case there won't be a 'taxi company' for the punters to phone. Of course, he might try to intercept a pre-booked run, in which case the police advice is relevant.

How could this stolen vehicle drive around a busy town centre and no one susses him out?

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IDFIMH

well based on the time it took them to catch Halliwell I think this police force is on a par with Lincolnshire for their maximum tolerance approach to policing

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Maybe he was driving round before the news of the theft got out, and by the looks of this he maybe just did one or two jobs. I doubt he'd last long if he reappeared in town now that the news is out, unless he'd changed the number plates, or whatever, but the other drivers would probably spot it anyway. But says here it wasn't reported stolen until the Saturday morning.

Photo's format here isn't very good for ID purposes, but presumably it's an HC. Thought might be a better photo on the Wilts Police website/Facebook/Twitter, but can't see this mentioned on there at all


Passengers feared for their lives after being picked up by stolen taxi in Swindon

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... i-swindon/


Image: Swindon Advertiser

Three passengers 'feared for their lives' after being picked up by a hooded thief driving a stolen taxi at speeds of up to 100mph.

The friends claim the driver later attempted to run them over at an industrial estate before fleeing for safety when he told them he had a gun.

The terrifying incident happened after the trio left Tree nightclub in Old Town at 3am on Saturday.

A Ford Allied Procab with taxi number 346 and license plate number SF18 ATV was stolen from an address nearby on the same evening.

A 21 year-old man from North Swindon, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been clubbing with two friends when they got into the same taxi - and only realised it was stolen when news of its theft circulated on Facebook.

He shared the details of his journey from hell with the Advertiser.

"We did order a taxi through the app, but we ended up taking a walk and found this taxi so we got in," he said.

"The driver was wearing latex black gloves, had a facemask on and had his hood up which we thought was weird but didn't question too much.

"Almost immediately we were concerned because his driving was extremely erratic, he was swerving across the road and he must have been going at least 100mph at times.

"He was taking us in a werid direction and one of my friends was really suspicous so he started asking the driver to stop, he then pulled the handbrake himself and got out.

"At the time my other mate and I just wanted to get home so we were asking him to get back in the car but he was begging us to get out, saying 'that's not a real taxi driver'. In the end he dragged us both out, we were at the industrial estate by Mead Way.

"The driver started demanded money for the journey and we asked him to show us his ID but he kept saying he couldn't take his mask off because of Covid.

"He then, out of the blue, tried to run us over, driving up onto the grass verge and he came so, so close to hitting my mate.

"We reacted quite angrily, because it was quite a scary thing to have happened and then he started shouting at us that he had a gun and we could see him reaching for something.

We ran and eventually he drove off."

The incident was only reported to the police after the friends saw a Facebook post calling on people to help find the stolen taxi.

He said: "It was definitely the same taxi, the moment I was sent the post I recognised the car.

"It was a mental situation, his driving was insane and when ge tried to run us over and mentioned the gun I definitely feared for my life.

"It was scary because we had no idea what his intentions were or why he was doing it."

The man said the driver returned to Tree nightclub and picked up another group containing a member of his family.

"I've seen a video of my cousin and her brother in the back of the taxi and they're getting thrown about because of how badly he's driving," said the 21-year-old.

He says that group were taken to their destination safely, albeit shaken when they arrived.

Another woman told the Advertiser she was approached by a man in what thinks was the same taxi - again on Friday night into Saturday morning.

Wiltshire Police are investigating and urged witnesses to come forward to help track down the rogue taxi driver.

A spokesman said: “We are carrying out enquiries following the theft of a taxi from outside an address in Swindon.

“It was stolen from Springfield Road overnight between Friday (November 5) and Saturday (November 6) and was reported stolen on the Saturday morning.

“We have since received a report of the possible thief driving the taxi, a black Ford Allied Procab, and using it to pose as a taxi driver and pick up customers.

“These people reported that the driver was acting in an aggressive and threatening way, as well as driving erratically, but thankfully they were not injured.

“We are investigating both the theft and the subsequent incident involving the man posing as a taxi driver.

"Anyone with information about the theft or anyone who has seen the stolen taxi is encouraged to call Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference 54210108220. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

Thought from the first article the thief maybe just a headbanger rather than someone trying to actually make money from picking people up.

But by the looks of the above, he's both

Thought that maybe Wilts Police supplied the photo etc to the press but didn't put it on their own website and social media.

But found this photo on a Swindon 'community' Facebook page, which was posted by the driver's colleague. This is clearly the full version of the cropped photo used by the Swindon Advertiser.

So basically looks like the newspaper has taken the lead on this, rather than just rehashing stuff supplied to them by Wiltshire Police.

But no mention of this at all on the Wiltshire Police website, nor on the Facebook page used by Swindon Police.

And, while I could be wrong, not sure if police would normally publish photos of a stolen vehicle at this stage, even if they have access to one.

Of course, there could be good reasons for police not publicising it all at this stage, but it seems quite a serious incident that you'd think police would prioritise.

My point is aimed at the local trade.

Surely word got out that the vehicle had been nicked?

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IDFIMH

Well Wiltshire Police issued an appeal about 24 hours after the Swindon Advertiser's second piece above.

Nothing particularly new, but it does confirm why they might not use the photo above - they've only used the first four characters of the registration number. Of course, they could have used a photo with the registration number blurred, presumably, but they've not published a photo, so presumably there's good reasons why they haven't disclosed all the information the newspaper has published.

Anyway, this is just the newish stuff and not the whole appeal:


Appeal after concerns about man driving stolen taxi in Swindon

https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/news/wi ... n-swindon/

We’re appealing for the public’s help after a taxi was stolen in Swindon and was reportedly used by someone posing as a legitimate taxi driver.

The vehicle, a black Ford Allied Procab with the registration starting SF18, was stolen from Springfield Road overnight between Friday (05/11) and Saturday (06/11) and was reported stolen on the Saturday morning.[...]

Today (10/11) the stolen taxi was located and recovered from the Walcot area of Swindon.[...]

The suspect is described as Asian, aged in his 20s or 30s, and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a mask and also purple latex gloves on one occasion.

I suspect the police are quite concerned, cos the above really doesn't go well with an illegal driver touting for work.

Or maybe something else.

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IDFIMH