A 58-year-old taxi driver fought off a knife-wielding bandit during a daylight robbery in Penal on Thursday, escaping with minor injuries.
The driver reported that he had two female passengers in his vehicle when he stopped around 1 pm near the Seventh-day Adventist Church along the Penal Rock Road to pick up a male “passenger”. The man, who was in his early 20s, sat in the front seat.
The driver said he proceeded to Dabedial Road to drop off one of the female passengers, but when he got near Bernard Trace, the man pulled out a small pink-handled knife from his waist and pointed it at him. Fearful for his life, the driver stopped the vehicle and began struggling with the suspect. The driver managed to grab his keys and escape, along with the two female passengers.
They ran to a nearby house and contacted the police. The suspect, however, stole an envelope containing $2,000 from the glove compartment.
PC Wears and PC Constantine of Penal CID responded and searched for the suspect without success.
The driver was treated for minor scrapes and bruises at the Siparia Health Facility.
