Have You Ever Been Robbed?
by Brian Diedrick
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Cabs, right? Little roving bank vaults driving around the city, inviting you along for the ride… Well, not exactly, but New York’s more desperate criminal element seems to think sticking up a taxi’s the way to make it big.
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Waiter
No, I haven't myself. It definitely happens — drivers get robbed and sometimes even worse, but it has never happened to me. The two things a driver really has to watch out for, more than being robbed, is when people run away without paying their fares and when they get in when they are really drunk.
Nirav
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 13
Previous profession: Clerk
When I first started driving, a man robbed me with a gun. I picked him up, and he closed the door and pointed his gun at me. I gave him 120 dollars — all my money. He took it and got out of the car. I have never been so scared. Nothing has happened since, but it nearly made me stop driving.
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Upper East Side
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 10
Previous profession: Livery driver
Only once has someone tried to rob me. He didn't get away with it. I was driving the guy downtown, when I felt a knifepoint against my throat. He asked for all my money and said he'd cut my throat if I didn't hand it over. Well, I tried to be calm. I looked back at him in the mirror and I noticed his hand was trembling. I made like I was reaching for my wallet, and he let up with the knife a little bit. So I slammed the window back into his hand and the knife dropped on my side. I held the window and said 'unless you have another knife back there you are not robbing me tonight.' I drove up a one-way street because I saw a policeman ahead. He noticed what was going on, put his lights on, and came over. He arrested the guy right there. It was scary, but I just kept my head on straight. You've got to be alert.
Abdul
Where I hailed him: Murray Hill
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 9
Previous profession: Mover
Once, several years ago. This guy gets in the cab and wants to go to the West Side, over by the river somewhere in the 40s. So, I take him, and right before I drop him off he pulls out a gun and tells me to give him some money. So I did. What can I do?
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 12
Previous profession: Gas station attendant
No, I haven't been robbed. My first year, though, a man tried to rob me. I was up on 79th Street going east and he hopped in my cab. He wanted to go to 82nd Street and York. So I started driving there and he pulled out a gun and put it to the back of my head and yelled 'give me money, money.' So, I say, 'ok, I will give you money'. And I slow the car and with one hand I shift into park and with my other hand I reach behind me and grab the gun and push it away. So I am holding the gun and he is holding the gun and we are both pulling on it, but he can't get it out of my hand, so he jumps out of the cab and runs, leaving me with the gun in my hand. I get out and chase him. I am yelling 'get him, get him' very loudly. There is this man on the street — he must have been police of some sort, FBI, undercover, I don't know — and as the robber passes, this man throws his bag at his legs and trips him and then jumps on him and puts his knee in the back of his neck to pin him down. Then he tells me to call 911. I do and the police come and arrest the robber and this man just slips away. When I show up later to testify, the police tell me that this man has been there and told them everything. I don't know who he was, but he must have been police of some kind.
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Waiter
No, I haven't myself. It definitely happens — drivers get robbed and sometimes even worse, but it has never happened to me. The two things a driver really has to watch out for, more than being robbed, is when people run away without paying their fares and when they get in when they are really drunk.
Nirav
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 13
Previous profession: Clerk
When I first started driving, a man robbed me with a gun. I picked him up, and he closed the door and pointed his gun at me. I gave him 120 dollars — all my money. He took it and got out of the car. I have never been so scared. Nothing has happened since, but it nearly made me stop driving.
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Upper East Side
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 10
Previous profession: Livery driver
Only once has someone tried to rob me. He didn't get away with it. I was driving the guy downtown, when I felt a knifepoint against my throat. He asked for all my money and said he'd cut my throat if I didn't hand it over. Well, I tried to be calm. I looked back at him in the mirror and I noticed his hand was trembling. I made like I was reaching for my wallet, and he let up with the knife a little bit. So I slammed the window back into his hand and the knife dropped on my side. I held the window and said 'unless you have another knife back there you are not robbing me tonight.' I drove up a one-way street because I saw a policeman ahead. He noticed what was going on, put his lights on, and came over. He arrested the guy right there. It was scary, but I just kept my head on straight. You've got to be alert.
Abdul
Where I hailed him: Murray Hill
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 9
Previous profession: Mover
Once, several years ago. This guy gets in the cab and wants to go to the West Side, over by the river somewhere in the 40s. So, I take him, and right before I drop him off he pulls out a gun and tells me to give him some money. So I did. What can I do?
Mohammed
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 12
Previous profession: Gas station attendant
No, I haven't been robbed. My first year, though, a man tried to rob me. I was up on 79th Street going east and he hopped in my cab. He wanted to go to 82nd Street and York. So I started driving there and he pulled out a gun and put it to the back of my head and yelled 'give me money, money.' So, I say, 'ok, I will give you money'. And I slow the car and with one hand I shift into park and with my other hand I reach behind me and grab the gun and push it away. So I am holding the gun and he is holding the gun and we are both pulling on it, but he can't get it out of my hand, so he jumps out of the cab and runs, leaving me with the gun in my hand. I get out and chase him. I am yelling 'get him, get him' very loudly. There is this man on the street — he must have been police of some sort, FBI, undercover, I don't know — and as the robber passes, this man throws his bag at his legs and trips him and then jumps on him and puts his knee in the back of his neck to pin him down. Then he tells me to call 911. I do and the police come and arrest the robber and this man just slips away. When I show up later to testify, the police tell me that this man has been there and told them everything. I don't know who he was, but he must have been police of some kind.
