Fare With Knife Steals Taxi

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 12

Fare With Knife Steals Taxi

A taxi-driver taking a fare to Ashburton was threatened with a knife and knocked unconscious with a bottle by his passenger when the taxi was near Bankside about 9.15 p.m, yesterday. The passenger then drove off in the taxi and late last night had not been apprehended. The driver’s money was in the taxi. ,

The taxi-driver is Ashley Albert Sinclair, aged 33, married with three children, of 35 Brockham street, Papanui. He was treated by a doctor at Rakaia and except for bruises on his head was not injured.

Mr Sinclair, who drives a Gold Band taxi owned by Mr R. Harker, of 21 Rudleigh street, Riccarton, was hired to travel to Ashburton at the taxi stand at the northern end of Cathedral square about 8.30 p.m. After calling at the Gold Band Service Station for petrol, he started for Ashburton. When the car was near Bankside, about 9.15 p.m., the passenger, who was sitting in the back seat, threatened Mr Sinclair with a knife and told him to stop the vehicle. The car was stopped and both men got out. Mr Sinclair was then struck over the head with a bottle. He later told the police that he lost consciousness for several seconds and when he came to saw his taxi disappearing to the south. About five minutes later Mr Sinclair stopped a passing truck driven by Mr Mervyn Pitty, of 93 Princess street, Ashburton. He was taken to the Rakaia Police Station and told Constable R. T. Miller what had occurred The Christchurch C. 1.8 was notified and roadblocks at Ashburto-. Temuka, and Dunedin were organised by Detective-Sergeant D. C. Lee Watches were also arranged on the Rakaia-Leeston highway and the Main West road. Detective Lee said it was possible that the taxi had doubled back after leaving Bankside. The Transport Department

and taxis on the road have been asked to look for the missing vehicle, which is a 1960 model Vauxhall, painted black. The registration number is T 5023.

Detective A E. Yaxley left Christchurch late last evening for Rakaia. After making inquiries there he returned to Christchurch with Mr Sinclair. Shortly before midnight a vehicle similar to the taxi was sighted about 26 miles south of Timaru, near the turn-off to Waimate. Earlier a black VauxhaH travelling at high speed almost forced a car off the road near Winchester.

Arrested On Bridge A 16-year-old youth driving a taxi, which was taken from its driver near Bankside last evening, was arrested on the Waitaki bridge a few minutes after midnight. Police had established a road block on the bridge and the youth did not resist when apprehended. He will appear in the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court this morning and will probably be remanded to appear in Christchurch. Shortly before being stopped the taxi was checked travelling at an estimated 90 miles an hour.