Taxi Drivers Targeted By CS Gas Robbers
28th August 2008
Two taxi drivers were subjected to horrific knife-point attacks in a night of terror for the town’s private-hire firms.
Both drivers were sprayed in the face with what is believed to have been CS gas before being threatened with knives. In the second attack, the driver was also stabbed in the arm by assailants.
In the first incident, which happened at around 10pm on Thursday (21 August), a taxi driver from Royal Car's picked up a fare from Morton Street.
As the 47-year-old drove towards Langley, the rear passenger held a knife to the back of his throat, while the front seat passenger sprayed him the face.
The callous pair stole cash before fleeing the scene.
A few hours later at around 3am on Friday morning (22 August), two men entered a vehicle at Diamond Taxi's on Rochdale Road.
When the driver pulled into Asby Close, the rear passenger sprayed him in the face three times, before the other passenger got out of the car and stabbed the driver in the left arm, before slashing his right hand.
The men stole the keys to the taxi and a cash bag containing a small amount of cash before running off.
It is understood the man involved in the second incident has been driving taxi's in the town for over 30 years.
Andrew Dawson, a partner at Diamond Taxis, said: "He's worked the night shift in the town for 30 years and has been with Diamond for 19 years since we started.
"He’s had problems before with fares running off and people throwing stones, but nothing like this.
"He’s in shock and is recovering at home, but he’ll be off work for a while because they stabbed him in one arm and slashed the hand on his other arm.
"It’s a dangerous job to do and its a perfect example of how dangerous the job is and why it’s often difficult to get a cab late at night."
In both incidents the men are described as white, in their late teens or early 20s, about 5ft 8in tall and of medium build. One of the men has fair hair and the other has dark hair.
Detective Constable Gerard Fisher from the Rochdale Robbery Unit said: "Although it is likely these two incidents are linked and the offenders the same, we are not ruling anything out.
"Both drivers are honest hard working men who were going about their daily work when they were subjected to violent and terrifying ordeals.
"I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of either incident or who recognises the descriptions of the offenders calls the police."
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Robbery Unit on 0161 856 4052 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source; Middleton Guardian
Login
Register
FAQ
