Spate Of Thefts From Taxis Reported

Published on: 4 Oct, 2012
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2012

Guildford taxis

A spate of thefts from taxis in the Guildford area has left drivers with damaged vehicles and loss of money, sat navs and phones.

There have been nine reported offences this week in which vehicles have been targeted overnight and offenders have made off with cash boxes and small electrical items.

A white people carrier was broken into on Monday (September 24) sometime between midnight and 7am in the Park Barn area. One thousand pounds worth of damage was caused to the vehicle in the offence, in which £100 cash, two mobile phones and a sat nav were taken.

In a similar offence in the same area, a black cab was targeted at around 5.30am on Wednesday ( September 26). A cash box containing £130 was stolen and £100 worth of damage was caused.

In Bellfields, cash and items worth a couple of hundred pounds were stolen from a black Peugeot van. The offence happened sometime between 9.30pm on Tuesday (25 September) and 5am the following morning. On the same night, Wednesday, 26 September, in the same vicinity, a silver Skoda was broken into with offenders stealing £120 in notes and coins.

Detective Inspector Mark Parry investigating said: “There has been a string of thefts from taxis across Guildford this week and I would urge taxi drivers to be security aware and not to leave money or valuable items in their vehicles. It is never a good idea for anything to be left on show when cars are parked up overnight and as these vehicles seem to have been specifically targeted, drivers should be on the alert.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have any information relating to these crimes to contact me at Surrey Police – maybe there is a detail which could help find these offenders and bring them to justice.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference GD/12/8694. Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.