Taxi Federation offers reward for info on taxi thieves
The NY State Federation of Taxi Drivers is upping the reward to catch carjackers of cabbies. This comes after a slew of robberies and carjackings in the Bronx. -Photos by NYPD, File Photo |
By David Greene
Bronx Voice
May 6, 2024
BRONX - The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD) is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals responsible for what they claim is an uptick in robberies of taxi drivers.
At a press conference at the federation’s headquarters on Bruckner Boulevard in the South Bronx, members claimed there have been nine robberies of taxi drivers in the prior two weeks, some ending with the drivers’ vehicles being stolen.
Driver Bamory Sanogo, 57, recalled his harrowing experience when he was recently robbed, assaulted, and carjacked by a male and female team—who Sanogo says crashed his taxi into two parked cars shortly after the robbery. Sanogo, a father of four said after the incident, “I’m just happy to be alive.”
The NYSFTD claimed another robbery took place at 11:30 a.m. on April 3, when Henry Soto, 44, from the High Class Car Service on West Fordham Road was robbed at gunpoint. He said of his experience, “I’m happy to be alive. I was beaten with the pistol and thought he was going to kill me.”
Soto stated he was robbed of $1,235 cash which he was going to use to pay his rent, as well as his watch and cell phone. NYSFTD claimed 9 drivers have recently been robbed and carjacked and announced an increase of rewards for information on taxi robberies from $5,000 to $7,500.
Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for NYSFTD stated, “The NYPD is doing their very best to stop these crimes, but they need the public’s help. We must stop these assaults at gunpoint before someone gets killed.” He advised all drivers in a similar situation to, “give it all up, don’t fight back.”
The NYPD has not announced a pattern of similar taxi robberies suggesting that the crimes are not connected.
The NYPD did release a photo of one suspect wanted in connection with a robbery of taxi driver at 3:56 a.m. on May 3, along Bronx Boulevard and Carpenter Avenue in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx.
In that incident an NYPD spokesperson told the Bronx Voice, “A 26-year-old male victim was working as a taxi driver driving an unknown male individual when a dispute occurred. The unknown individual jumped out of the moving vehicle and discharged a firearm at the vehicle striking the passenger door.” The driver was uninjured.
The NYPD released a photo of the suspect, described as a male, 19 to 25-years-old, with a light complexion and slim build. He was last seen wearing a black vest and black jeans.
The NYPD also announced a second taxi robbery that took place on April 3, at 3:20 p.m. In that case, police say the 43-year-old victim picked up an individual at Webster Avenue and East 168 Street in Claremont Village.
A police spokesman said of that incident, “As the vehicle was traveling southbound on the Bronx River Parkway in the vicinity of East Gun Hill Road within the confines of the 47th Precinct, the unidentified individual displayed a firearm and demanded the victim’s property.”
The spokesperson continued, “The victim pulled over on the highway and surrendered his cell phone, watch and more than $1,300. The individual then fled the location to parts unknown.”
Police described that suspect as being in his early 20’s, wearing a red jacket with white sleeves, blue jeans and black sneakers.
Anyone with any information on any taxi robberies is asked to call the NYSFTD and the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Tip Line at: 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.
Comments
Post a Comment