Do you recognise this man who robbed a taxi driver in a nasty attack in the early hours of Monday morning (April 18)?
At around 12.50am a man got into the back of a taxi on the Old Steine, Brighton. He asked the driver to take him to Abbey Road but during the journey directed him to Sudeley Place where the taxi stopped.
On asking for the fare, the man reached forward from the back passenger seat and grabbed at the driver’s money bag with one hand and held a knife to his face with the other.
The driver tried to push the man’s hands away but he managed to grab the money bag containing £80-90 and ran away from the taxi.
Detective constable Paul Ash said: “The suspect is described as white with a local accent, in his early 20s, around 5’ 10” in height and of an average build. He had a long thin face with dark short hair and a large scab on his right eyebrow.
“This was an extremely serious and violent attack on an innocent member of the public trying to go about their job. It was a very scary attack on the taxi driver who was clearly shaken by what happened, but thankfully uninjured.
“We are urging anyone who recognises this man to contact police or if they can offer any information on what happened. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 34 of 18/04. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org).”
The taxi drivers were unhappy about being forced to spend £800 installing CCTV in all their vehicles. It did not prevent this robbery but lets hope it helps capture the thief (note the tattoo!)
There has also been a spate of taxi windows being smashed and in some instances the coin holders being taken. Several of these incidents have been around the Market Diner area and its’ side streets. Don’t leave ANY valuables in your cab or any other vehicles as it is an awful feeling to know that you are working hard just to provide scum with an easy target.