Coventry taxis targeted in spate of break-ins
Oct 12 2010
More than 30 black cabs were broken into during a two-day crime spree in Coventry.
Cabbies say they have had their windows smashed while their taxis were parked outside their homes.
It’s believed thieves were after money.
Alias Yousef, former chairman of Coventry Taxi Drivers Association and the city’s representative on the West Midlands Taxi Forum, said things got so bad last week black cab makers ran out of replacement windows.
He said: “A witness said it was a guy on a motorbike going round people’s houses, putting cab windows through and looking for valuables."
"The local dealers actually ran out because they didn’t know that many would go in one week."
“These are not opportunist incidents here, it’s premeditated – they’re actually going out to target taxis in the city. Drivers are even leaving their door unlocked now to say ‘come in, have a look around there’s nothing in here just don’t smash the window’.”
Police say not all 30 incidents – apparently taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings – were reported to them.
Harjeet Singh Bains had his window smashed last Wednesday. He said: “I only found out at about 6am when I came out to it. I had taken everything out. A lot of the taxis had been done in the Styvechale area."
“You lose a day’s wages plus the cost of repairs and it costs about £200. It’s more about the headache and the worry about what will happen the next day.”
Driver Mohammed Ashfaq said: “I know a couple of the drivers who had their windows smashed. I heard it happened to between 30 and 35 drivers last week.”
Another driver, Gurdial Bains, said: “What’s actually been happening is cabbies have been leaving their float in the cab."
“As soon as these people find £50 or £60 in a cab they will try the rest of the city. It’s easy pickings for them. The cabs should be empty of any valuables."
“It happened about four years ago in the city and we ran out of glass then.”
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “Nine incidents of smashed windows to taxis were reported to Coventry police between October 4 and 7."
Eight of these windows were broken while taxis were parked on driveways. One was smashed by a passenger.
“Coventry Police take all reports of car crime seriously and are investigating these reports.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 0345 113 5000.
Source; http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... 7450112/2/
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