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MORE cabbies are falling victim to crime. Last year, 49 of them were robbed, double the 24 cases in 2006. In the first three months of this year alone, 14 cabbies have already fallen prey.
In the latest case, which happened early Sunday morning, three teens, armed with a hammer, robbed three taxi drivers of $460 and a mobile phone over three hours.
The police revealed that in most cases, the culprit would strike at night or in the early hours of the morning. He often acts alone as a passenger and takes either the front passenger seat or the one behind the driver.
He would give the driver a location, then switch destinations along the way, usually to a more secluded spot. There, he would either grab the victim's neck from behind or thrust a knife at him, before fleeing on foot.
However, the police noted that robbers don't usually set out to hurt cabbies and injuries happen only if the taxi driver struggles or resists.
Cabbies on the night shift told The Straits Times they find themselves in a fix as they are not allowed to pick and choose passengers and can be fined for doing so. To protect themselves, they avoid secluded areas.
Comfort cabby Lim Keow Siong's alarm bells ring whenever he spots a passenger in an unlikely environment. 'I won't pick up a 14-year-old from an industrial area because chances are he won't be up to any good,' said the 44-year-old.
TransCab cabby A. L. Tan, 46, suggested that safety screens between passengers and cabbies be put up as a form of protection. 'That way, they can't threaten us with a knife or even grab us by the neck.'
Countries, such as Australia, China and Britain, have implemented the use of a screen or metal bars to prevent physical contact between drivers and passengers after robberies against taxi drivers became rampant. In Sydney, several taxi companies even installed CCTV cameras inside the vehicles.
ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest taxi operator, said it tried out the idea of putting up screens five years ago, but both cabbies and passengers felt they were a 'barrier to communication'. Mr Lim said the screen also makes it tough for cabbies to stop passengers who try to flee without paying.
But Comfort cabby Alan Tan, 48, felt such screens do more good than harm. 'If robbers have to break the screen down to get to us, at least we have time to dodge.'
Taxi companies say they have other safety measures in place. Both ComfortDelGro and SMRT Taxis have an emergency button installed near the acceleration pedals which drivers can easily activate to notify their centres.
Many cabbies keep a pole or a can of air freshener spray by their side. They also hide their earnings in different places. Mr Tan said: 'As with every job, being a cabby has its dangers. We just have to be careful.'
mavistoh@sph.com.sg
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