Crazy taxi

A taxi driver, who attempted to rob an American and his wife in Makati City yesterday, came up empty but left several cars damaged in a wild and crazy heist.

PO2 Ricky Mel Corpuz of the theft and robbery division of the Makati police said the complainants were Allen Khosrovani and his wife Hermina Marcial, billeted at a condominium in Barangay West Rembo.

According to the couple, the incident took place at around 9:30 a.m. along Sgt. F. Yabut Circle, Guadalupe Nuevo. The couple boarded a white taxi with plate number PWP-298 and asked the driver to take them to Quezon City.

When the driver asked for a P500 fare for the trip, the couple refused and demanded that the meter be activated as required by law.

Angered by the response, the taxi driver locked the doors of the vehicle and continued to demand the P500 fare.

Marcial called up a friend – a police officer – using her mobile phone and reported their situation.

The driver got even more furious and sped off while repeatedly demanding cash from the couple.

Khosrovani managed to unlock the doors then jumped out of the vehicle. The driver stopped the cab and went out to force Khosrovani back inside. However, the American managed to escape from the driver, who also tried to grab his clutch bag.

The driver quickly ran back to his vehicle and sped off with the American’s wife still in the back seat. However, the taxi’s door was still open and hit several vehicles on the street.

The drivers of the damaged vehicles followed the taxi all the way to Balagtas corner Mactan streets where persistent taxi driver finally stopped his vehicle. As his passenger tried to get out of the taxi, the driver tried to grab her bag. However, Marcial was able to break free and escape from the frustrated driver.

The driver got back inside his vehicle and sped off. He is still at large. Investigators are now verifying the operator of the taxi to determine the identity of the crazy driver.