POLICE are stepping up the hunt for attackers who have carried out a series of robberies on minicab drivers.

The latest incident happened on December 2 at around 1.30am when a 42-year-old driver suffered bruising to his throat after collecting two men from Pelly Road in Plaistow. He took them to Jasper Road, Beckton, where the attack happened.

After refusing to hand over his cash one of the suspects put a cord around his neck and began to choke him. The other man then snatched his phone from his shirt pocket and again demanded his money.

Both suspects are described as black and in their mid-to-late 30s. One is thought to be around 6ft tall, thin, with a pock-marked face. He wore black and white check trousers. The other is described as around 5ft 6ins tall, athletically built with a scar below his right eye.

The previous night at around 2.30am another minicab driver was robbed of his satellite navigation equipment after being threatened with a knife.

The 27-year-old driver picked up two men in Walthamstow who asked to be dropped off in Forest Gate. They directed the driver to Field Road where one of the men pulled out a knife. The driver did as he was told, and the suspects made off with his cash as well as two satellite navigation systems of the TomTom brand to the value of £200.

Both men are black, aged around 20. One is described as 6ft tall and fat. The other is of medium build.

In an earlier incident on November 27, two men directed a 28-year-old driver into Burgess Road, Stratford. One of the suspects took out a 4-inch lock knife and threatened the driver before stealing £50, a mobile phone and the front of the CD player.

Anyone with information should call (020) 8534 1212.
http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content/newham/recorder/news/