...TERROR TIMES
READING PHV DRIVER THREATENED WITH A KNIFE FOR NOT TAKING ILLEGAL FARE
A PHV driver was threatened and almost robbed at knifepoint in Reading. Zulfiqar Hussain, 50, describes how he was dropping off a regular customer in Katesgrove when the shocking incident happened. He said: "I usually wait till the lady closes her door before I set off just to be on the safe side. "I looked up and there was a man stand- ing there. He said 'I need a taxi to Morrisons' which is just round the corner. I said, 'I'm afraid not, we are private book- ing only'. He turned round and said 'come on man it's just down the road'. "Then he pulled out a proper 12 inch kitchen knife threatened me and said 'give me your money, give me your ****ing money!' "I had an instant reaction. I just put my foot down, and drove away from him.” The offender managed to slash a hole in Mr Hussain's jumper, but fortunately he was not injured in the incident. Mr Hussain, from High Wycombe, has
back I don't have any injuries. It could have turned out a lot nastier." A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery in Elgar Road South, Reading, on Saturday, October 3. It hap- pened near to the Reading Driving Test centre at around 9.30pm. "The offender is described as a mixed- race man, aged between 18 and 21 years old. Anybody with information should call 101 quoting reference number 43200311405."
worked for Yellow Cars for many years and although he has never experienced an incident like this, he is aware of other drivers being targeted. Mr Hussain added: "95 per cent of drivers probably would've frozen and ended up being robbed. This was just an instant decision by me to put my foot down. "Apart from my top being cut from the
THREE ARRESTED FOR ROBBERIES OF WATFORD CABBIES WHO WERE SPRAYED WITH SUBSTANCE
Three people have been arrested after taxi drivers were targeted in the North Watford area and robbed. A Watford man, 40, and a man from Stevenage, 19, were both arrested on sus- picion of robbery, and have been bailed until 27 October while police continue to investigate events. A 15-year-old boy from Watford has also been arrested on suspicion of robbery. The following offences have occurred: • At 2.44am on September 21, a taxi driv- er stopped in Harris Road and the passenger sprayed an unknown sub- stance in the driver’s face before taking a quantity of cash.
• On September 26, a man got into a taxi in Gullet Wood Road and demanded cash. He poured an unknown substance on the driver before making off with an amount of money.
• On September 28, offenders forced their way into a taxi in Orbital Crescent and demanded money. They squirted an unknown substance at the driver before making off. Nothing was taken.
NOVEMBER 2020
• At 5.40am on October 1, an offender tried to rob a taxi driver in Rushton Avenue. He threw an unknown liquid in the driver’s face. The victim drove off and nothing was taken.
Watford Chief Inspector Ian Grout said: “This would have been a frightening ordeal for the victims and I know that these incidents have caused concern among Watford’s taxi driving community. “Due to the unknown liquid being thrown at the drivers they were taken to hospital as a precaution and thankfully did not suf- fer any injuries. Our enquiries will include working to establish what that liquid was.” Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “My thoughts are with those who have had to endure what must have been a deeply frightening ordeal and I wish them a very speedy recovery. People should be able to go about their daily business free from any fear of violence or loss of their livelihood. “I am pleased our local police have been able to act swiftly and trust our taxi com- munity feel reassured by their response.”
MASKED ROBBERS ATTACK AND ROB DUDLEY DRIVER
A the 64-year-old taxi driver has been assaulted and robbed by two masked men. The men approached the driver just before 1.50am on Brook Street, Woodset- ton, Dudley in the early hours of Monday morning 5 October. They told him to open the door and, when he refused, smashed a window with a scaffold pole. He was then hit on the head, before the two men ran away with his car key, phone and wallet. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Although shaken, the taxi driver was not seriously hurt. We are speaking to wit- nesses and reviewing CCTV.”
LIVERPOOL DRIVER ROBBED AND RACIALLY ABUSED
A taxi driver was assaulted and had his money stolen by his passengers whilst dropping them off in Kirkby. He was also subjected to racist comments during the robbery. The incident happened at around 10pm on Wednesday 30 September on Sidney Powell Avenue, West Vale, Liverpool. Merseyside police have now arrested two males: a 16-year-old was detained a short time after the assault at a property on Richard Hesketh Drive. An 18-year-old was arrested the following day during a stop check on Oak Lane North, Croxteth. Both of the teens remain under investiga- tion at this time.
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