Robbers using taxis to rob and get away, says police

NATIONAL Capital District (NCD) Supt Gideon Ikumu says robbers are using taxis to stage their heists and as their getaway vehicles because their chances of stealing cars in the city are being curbed with effective policing.
“Five robbery suspects were seen leaving a crime scene in a red and white taxi in Gordon on Sunday,” he said.
“A Closed Circuit TV footage showed five armed men robbing customers and staff in the KMC fast food shop. The taxi driver could be a suspect or a victim in this crime.”
In a similar getaway recently, Supt Ikumu said robbers also used a taxi in an attempted hold-up of a delivery truck at 8-Mile but the driver managed to reverse his truck and fled.
When police impounded the taxi, the driver said the robbers pointed a gun to his midriff in the attempt to hijack the truck.
The taxi driver said a suspect held him at gunpoint while others went after the truck. He said they returned and forced him to drive away from the crime scene.
Another taxi driver was also used early this month to rob some people in Badili before police gave chase and recovered the abandoned taxi in Vanagi settlement.
“The string of robberies involving taxis point to a new modus operandi used by criminals to commit crimes,” Supt Ikumu said.
He said the effective police responses was resulting in the quick recovery of stolen cars.
He said criminals stole cars for their use as getaway vehicles.
“We are restricting their crimes and that is why they are resorting to this new method,” he said, cautioning taxi drivers to be wary of such tactics adopted by criminals.