Police appeal after man pretends to be taxi driver in Swindon
The stolen vehicle has since been recovered by police
Last updated 11th Nov 2021
Police have launched an appeal to track down a man who stole a taxi and then allegedly tried to pick up paying customers in Swindon.
The black Ford Allied Procab, with a reg. number starting SF18, was taken overnight on Springfield Road between Friday (05/11) and Saturday (06/11).
Wiltshire Police say they received a number of reports of the alleged thief posing as a taxi driver and attempting to pick people up.
The stolen vehicle was found yesterday (10/11) in the Walcot area of Swindon.
PC James Mann, from Swindon Police, said: “Those who say they were picked up by this taxi have said the driver was acting in an aggressive and threatening way, as well as driving erratically.
“Thankfully, nobody was injured and it is good news that the taxi has now been recovered. However it is concerning that the thief appeared to use the taxi to pose as a legitimate driver.
“We are investigating both the theft and the subsequent incidents involving the man posing as a taxi driver, and are following up a number of lines of enquiry.
Police are looking for a man described as Asian, aged in his 20s or 30s, who spoke with a local accent.
He was wearing a mask and may have had purple latex gloves on.