Hunt underway for carjacker who tried to run over taxi driver in Temple
Detectives say the attack was 'completely random'
A search is underway for a thief who threatened a taxi driver at knifepoint, stole his car and tried to run him over in the Temple area of Glasgow.
Around 9pm on Friday 31 August, a person in one of the flats in Tambowie Street called a taxi. At the same time, a Vauxhall vehicle with a man and woman inside was parked on the road outside.
As the taxi arrived to pick up the customer, the man from the Vauxhall got out and threatened the 36-year-old driver with a knife, demanding money from him.
The man was forced out of his taxi - a Hyundai i30 - and the thief got in and attempted to drive the vehicle at the taxi driver.
He jumped out the way before the suspect then drove off in the stolen taxi. The woman within the Vauxhall vehicle also drove off.
The taxi driver did not sustain any injuries but he has been left badly shaken by the incident.
The suspect is white, between 30 and 35, around 6 ft. tall, with short shaved hair. He was wearing a grey coloured tracksuit at the time of the incident. There is limited information on the woman in the Vauxhall car, she was wearing a pink long sleeved top.
The Hyundai i30 was recovered burnt out a short time later on the canal path to the rear of Rotherwood Avenue. CCTV enquiries carried out so far have revealed the Hyundai i30 was being driven at excessive speed along Baldwin Avenue, Knighstwood, before eventually being abandoned and set on fire at the canal path.
Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and continue to check CCTV footage for any additional information.
Detective Constable Chris Sneddon said: “We do not know why this taxi driver has been attacked and had his cab stolen from him, the attack was completely random.
“We’re aware there were several people in the area around the time this incident occurred and I am appealing to them to contact us.
“At this stage, we don’t know how long the Vauxhall car with the male suspect and the woman was parked in the street. Perhaps you saw them and can provide us with more information, in particular the woman, as we have very limited information on her.
“The stolen vehicle was speeding as it made off and people in the surrounding areas may have noticed the car given its excessive speed. If anyone has any information or knowledge regarding this incident or the suspects, then please get in touch with us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call officers at the Community Investigation Unit via 101, quoting incident number 4248 of 31 July 2018. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.