Taxi driver robbed overnight in St. John's, 2 suspects at large

A taxi driver with Newfound Cabs was robbed at knife point early Monday morning in St. John's and the company is offering a $2,000 for information leading to a conviction.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers were called to a report of an armed robbery early Monday morning.

Police said a taxi driver reported two suspects stole an undisclosed amount of money and ran from the scene in the central part of the city.

Albert Newell, the broker for Newfound Cabs, said the female driver was "very, very shaken" by the incident, which happened around 1 a.m. in the Anderson Avenue area.

"They hauled a knife on her and robbed her," said Newell.

According to Newell, the two passengers — one male and one female — worked together to rob the driver.

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The male passenger was holding a knife near the driver while robbing her, Newell said, as the female passenger prevented the driver from fleeing.

"She [female passenger] opened the back door and got out and opened my driver's door so she wouldn't run, as her friend or whoever it was, her boyfriend or whatever, ran through her purse and her pockets and took the money that she had."

The driver didn't specify how close the knife was held to her person, but Newell said the driver isn't sure she'll be returning to work after the robbery.

Newfound Cabs is now offering a $2,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction.

"These girls and fellas [drivers] are out in the nighttime just trying to make a dollar and get everybody home safe," said Newell.

"It's a good bit of money to come up with, but someone is going to end up getting hurt — big time hurt. Every week you hear of a driver getting a punch or a driver getting a beer thrown at him … they're only out trying to bring all you home."

Newell said this incident, and other similar incidents, are due to drugs.

According to Newell, the city's cab companies have all reported incidents of this nature in the last few months and are talking together about upgraded security measures for drivers.

Officers responded with police dogs, but no arrests have yet been made.

The RNC is asking anyone with information to come forward to call police or Crime Stoppers.