A MAN driving a stolen taxi has given police the slip in a chase along Sydney's northern beaches.

The man caught the cab at Newport about 3am (AEDT) today, then stole the vehicle when the driver stopped to refuel, police said.

Police gave chase when they spotted the taxi driving dangerously south down Pittwater Road but soon lost sight of the vehicle.

A short time later the taxi collided with another car at Burnt Creek Bypass at Manly but kept going.

The man abandoned the damaged cab after it broke down at Spit Bridge and hailed another taxi to North Manly.

A passenger already in the cab told police the man showed him a firearm and a knife.

Police want to speak to anyone with information about the man's identity.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20965303-1702,00.html