ANGRY taxi drivers are demanding police action to halt a spate of mysterious cab thefts in the town. Since June, 1994, nine 'Fairway' black cab-style taxis have been stolen from outside drivers' homes around the St Helens area.

All the missing vehicles - valued at between £15,000 and £20,000 each - have been equipped to carry wheelchairs, prompting worried owners to believe that an organised 'steal-to-order' gang is behind the thefts.

And in the latest incident, at the beginning of May, one driver had his second taxi stolen in less than two years - despite having it fitted with an alarm immobiliser, master switch and steering lock! Ged Clough, a driver with St-Helens based Raven Taxis, told the Star: "Both cars went missing at the exact same time in the morning. There was no broken glass and no witnesses, they just disappeared without trace."

Now desperate drivers, fearing for their livelihoods, are resorting to drastic measures to thwart the thieves. These include sleeping in cabs, removing steering wheels or accelerator pedals to safeguard the vehicles, which are used to transport disabled people around the St Helens area.

Trevor Stevenson, also a driver for Raven Taxis, added: "St Helens appears to have the highest percentage of taxis stolen in the UK, but we don't want these incidents to be classed as simple car theft. We are in business and drivers are losing their livelihood.

"When thieves steal a wheelchair cab they are slowing our response time for the handicapped community and it is disabled people who are missing out. We want the police to give greater priority to the problem by assigning detectives to stamp out these thefts."

But DC Chris Liptrot of St Helens Crime Management Unit stressed: "Taxi thefts form part of ongoing car crime and as such they are considered important, particularly because of their value. We are also mindful that they affect people's livelihoods and we do view them as a priority.

"The figures for taxi thefts are actually going down, although obviously this is of no satisfaction to the people who have lost them. We have not traced any of the vehicles and are appealing for anybody with any information, particularly those involved in taxi organisations, to get in touch."

ANYONE with information about the taxi thefts can contact DC Liptrot on 0151 777 6077 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

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