Taximan beaten robbed

A 68-year-old taxi driver was allegedly beaten and robbed by three men in the early hours of the morning of Saturday, August 23, 2014.

Francis Thompson was hired to make a trip to Dubois by three men whom he picked up on the corner of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital {{more}}at approximately 12:50 a.m., a source told SEARCHLIGHT.

Thompson, a Campden Park resident, was beaten and robbed of $85 before the culprits fled, leaving him bloodied and bruised, outside his vehicle in the Vermont area. He sought help from a local resident, who then accompanied him to the Vermont Police Station.

At the station, the sergeant on duty contacted members of the Rapid Response Unit, who escorted Thompson to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he was given medical treatment.

In the aftermath of this incident, president of the SVG Taxi Drivers Association Winston “Pops” Morgan is warning other taxi drivers to be extra vigilant when operating at nights.

“Always try to be aware of your surroundings,” he cautioned. “You can’t just be lackadaisical and relaxed to what’s going on.”

“The level of crime is escalating and sometimes you have to not always look at the dollar,” he added.

Morgan advised taxi drivers and other business men who operate at nights to carry protection with them in their vehicles at all times, to be able to defend themselves if attacked.

He also urged them to take into account individuals’ attire and behaviour before accepting the fare; and to be knowledgeable about the areas in which they operate.

“If it’s a crime prone area, drugs or whatever, you avoid those situations… this is what I do and I’ve been driving taxi for over 15 years.”

He also warned drivers to avoid taking long-distance fares at night, and to avoid keeping large quantities of money on their person on a regular basis.

“Safety first,” he insisted. “The dollar comes into play after that.”

Morgan said that over the years, attacks against taxi drivers have been “up and down,” with a few attacks happening around the same time, then going quiet, then rising up again.

“It all goes according to what’s happening in the place,” he explained. “Things getting hard; people have no money. Some are lazy and looking for an easy dollar!”

Police are investigating the matter.