Police report increase in kidnappings by fake taxi operators

 

The Police High Command is reporting an increase in the number of kidnapping incidents in which kidnappers pose as public transport operators. 

 

But station manager at the National Strategic Anti-gang Division, Detective Inspector Paulette Wynter-Crossfield, was hesitant to describe these incidents as prevalent. 

 

"Motorists [are] operating motor vehicles pretending to be taxis and then persons who are so unsuspecting, not knowing that it's not taxi, enter the vehicle and then they are held at gunpoint in the vehicle and taken to ATM, forced to give their banking information for the criminals to withdraw monies," outlined the detective inspector, who was speaking on a recent episode of the JCF's Force4Good podcast.

 

The police say kidnappers have targeted areas such as Papine, New Kingston, Hagley Park Road, Mountain View in St. Andrew and sections of St. Thomas. 

 

Commuters are being advised to take licensed taxis, noting that the previous incidents only involved illegal operators. 

 

The police are also recommending that commuters take a photograph of the vehicle, the licence plate and the driver, and share their live locations with a trusted relative or a friend.