CRIMINALS USING TAXI CABS TO COMMIT CRIMES:POLICE

Metropolitan Superintendant, Gideon Ikumu

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In a media statement, Metropolitan Superintend, Gideon Ikumu said criminals were using taxis because effective police responses had helped reduce car theft in the city.

Mr Ikumu’s comment stemmed from a CCTV footage of five suspects fleeing from a crime scene in a red and white cab in Gordon yesterday.

A video footage captured by CCTV showed five armed men robbing customers and staff at the KMC Fast Food shop at Gordon yesterday.

Mr Ikumu said the cab driver could be a suspect or a victim in this crime.

He said in a similar incident recently, criminals used a cab and attempted to hold up a delivery truck at 8-Mile.

However, he said the driver evaded this crime by reversing away from the suspects.

When police impounded a red and yellow cab, the driver said, they put a gun to his midriff and attempted to rob the truck.

The cabby said a suspect held him at gun point while others went after the truck.

Further, he said they returned and forced him to drive away from the crime scene.

Criminals used another taxi cab was early this month to rob some people at Badili.  Police gave chase and recovered the abandoned taxi at Vanagi settlement.

This string of crimes involving taxis exposes a new modus operandi used by criminals to commit crimes, Mr Ikumu said.

He said the effective police responses in NCD Metropolitan command is resulting in the quick recovery of stolen cars.

Criminals, he said, steal cars purposely to use them as getaway vehicles.

We are restricting their crimes and that’s why they are resorting to this new method.

The Metropolitan police commander cautioned taxi drivers to be wary of such tactics adopted by criminals.

They are planning to clamp down on this new crime trend, he said.