Taxi driver throttled and robbed in Essex
A taxi driver in Essex was throttled until he passed out and robbed of his car by two passengers.
The victim had picked up the men outside Quattroz nightclub in The High, Harlow, in the early hours of Sunday.
He stopped in Hoe Lane, Nazeing, where he was held around the throat until he passed out, police said.
He came round on the road to find the men going through his pockets and was kicked in the face. The robbers drove off in his Toyota Avensis.
His mobile phone and some cash were in the car, which was found "completely burnt out" in Mayflower Close, Waltham Abbey, 10 minutes later.
The taxi driver, who is 30 and from Harlow, was treated at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The offenders got into the taxi, along with another man, at about 0335 BST.
The third man was dropped off in Broadley Common before the robbery happened.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Essex Police.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/8603460.stm
Man robs taxi driver with hammer
POLICE are hunting a man who robbed a taxi driver while wielding a claw hammer.
The driver, aged 21, had gone to collect a fare in Ainslie Street, Barrow at 10pm last night when the attack happened.
A man ran out from a dark alley, smashed the taxi window with the hammer and demanded cash.
The attacker took £100 takings and was last seen making off in the direction of the Tally Ho pub.
A police spokesman said the robbery took place at the rear of Chas Kendall bookmakers after the taxi driver - who was in a silver Vauxhall Vectra - had gone to pick up a customer.
He said it was a nasty incident and the driver was left in a state of shock with scratches to his arm from the broken glass.
The attacker is described as five foot ten inches tall, of slim build and was wearing a white balaclava and dark coloured jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to ring Barrow CID on 0845 3300 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/home/
As posted in the Scottish section......
Taxi driver slashed by teen girls - over a £6 fare
A TAXI driver was brutally slashed by two girls who refused to pay a £6 fare.
The pair, aged 15 and 16, carried out the sickening assault with a craft knife on the doorstep of the house which grandad Alistair Mackay had driven them to.
Around 30 taxis raced to the scene within five minutes of the attack after Alistair, 61, pressed his panic button.
One driver said: "The police also got there very quickly - and it was just as well with 30 taxi drivers trying to get at this pair of scumbags."
Alistair, a dad of four and grandad of 13, suffered face and back injuries.
He said last night: "These girls were just wee things and had been quite chatty during the journey.
"When I got to the house, they said they would need to go inside to get money.
"I waited for 10 minutes then knocked the door. I said, 'It's about the taxi fare.'
"She replied, 'What fare?' She shut the door and I knocked again.She opened it and went for me, flailing at my face with a knife.
"I fell to the ground before I could get back to my taxi and hit the alarm."
As other cabbies raced to the Tango Call which signals a driver in danger, police sped to the scene in Castlemilk, Glasgow.
The occupants of the house refused to answer the door - and police were forced to break in with a battering ram.
Neighbours and cab drivers applauded as the suspects were led out. Police confirmed two girls, aged 15 and 16, had been detained and said a report would be sent to the fiscal.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... 010/04/05/
Robbers punch cab driver and steal takings in Laindon
DETECTIVES hunting robbers who punched a cabbie before stealing his takings are appealing for public help to track down two men they want to question.
Police released images of two men they want to trace after a 52-year-old taxi driver was punched in the face and had hundreds of pounds and his sat nav taken.
The taxi driver had dropped off two men in Delimands, Laindon, but as they got out, he was attacked and robbed.
Investigating officer Det Con Karen Hutchings, of Billericay CID, said: “The images are clear enough for someone to recognise the pair if they already know them.
“Thankfully the victim only suffered some redness as a result of the attack.
“If you recognise the men in the CCTV, or witnessed anything at the time of the incident, please call us.”
Both men are described as white and aged in their mid twenties. One was around 5ft 10ins tall, slim and wore a baseball cap.
His accomplice was 6ft 1ins tall, stocky with short cropped hair and was unshaven.
Witnesses to the robbery, which happened at 1.50am on Friday February 5, or anyone who recognises the pair, can contact Det Con Hutchings at Billericay CID on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 5551111.
http://www.basildonrecorder.co.uk/news/