Totnes taxi robbery (From Mid Devon Star)

Totnes taxi robbery

11:00am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Devon

 Police in Totnes are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was robbed in the town.

The driver, a 26-year-old from Torquay, dropped off four passengers on the A381 Western Bypass when the attack took place.

He had picked the four suspects – a woman and three men – from Babbacombe Road in Torquay at around 3.50am on Monday 27 August and drove them to Totnes, arriving at the location at around 4-4.30am.

As he pulled over to let them out near to the junction with Cistern Street one of the three men in the back of the car grabbed him around the neck while another of the men grabbed his takings. All four then ran off from the car.

Two were seen to run up Harpers Hill (known as the old Roman Road) and the female who had been sat in the front passenger seat ran down towards Cistern Street.

The driver attempted to chase after them but was pulled down to the ground by a third man.

The driver suffered soreness in the attack and was shaken but not seriously injured.

Police have described the four suspects as – 1) white female, blonde, early 20s, 5’5”-5’6” chubby build wearing a white dress with patterns with spots of swirls carrying a black or brown handbag; 2) rear middle passenger was a man of chubby build wearing a light grey top or t-shirt blue jeans early to mid 20s with short mousey shaven style hair; 3) male sat behind drivers (no description); 4) male sat behind passenger 5’ 6” to 5’7” with black ‘rough looking’ hair black t-shirt possibly dark blue jeans may have had a tattoo.

Investigating officer PC James Brice said: “This is a serious incident, which is not a normal occurrence within the Totnes area and we are actively looking to locate and identify potentially the four people involved in this. If anybody heard or saw anything around this time, then please call the police on 101 and quote crime JS/12/888 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”