Robbers targeting taxi drivers held

2008/06/22

Robbers targeting taxi drivers held

JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested three men on Tuesday believed to be responsible for robbing at least 15 taxi drivers in the city for the past month.

The robbers in their 30s, were nabbed after detectives went undercover as taxi drivers plying the residential areas.

One of the robbers flagged down the detective driving the taxi at 8pm in Taman Century.

The detective immediately apprehended the robber and drove him to the nearest police station.

Police arrested the other robbers in the city and recovered identity cards and other documents belonging to their victims.

Giant Plentong Taxi Driver Association chairman Lee Siew Loong said they worked hand-in-hand with the police to nab the robbers.

The robbers would relieve the driver of his identification card, driving licence, cash, mobile phone and other valuables.

When they robbed another taxi driver, they would give him the identity card and other documents of the former victim.

Lee said at least 20 drivers had encountered the gang members and 15 were robbed.

The other five escaped because they declined to take the fare.