Caught on Tape
Chicago police credit in-cab surveillance camera in apprehending suspected cab thieves.
By: Jonathan Bullington
Chicago police announced the arrest of two suspects wanted in connection with the September 13, 2008 armed robbery of a taxi driver in the 300 block of West Walton.
According to police reports, around 1:30 a.m. the driver parked his taxi and was on foot when two young men approached him. They displaying a handgun and demanded his belongings.
T
he driver complied, relinquishing $200 dollars, a cell phone and car keys to the robbers. The two men fled on foot, where police say they used the cabdriver's keys to steal his taxi.
After locating the vehicle and reviewing images from the Verifeye TaxiCam, Chicago police issued a community alert bearing the image showing both suspect's faces. Roughly three weeks later, two police officers arrested an individual on an unrelated case. Upon viewing the community alert, the officers determined the suspect they arrested was one of the same suspects seen in the TaxiCam video. Through further questioning, the suspect gave a full admission to his part in the September 13 robbery.
One week later, police arrested the other suspect.
Had it not been for the images captured by Verifeye's TaxiCam, Chicago Police Sergeant Kusinski believes apprehending the suspects would have been much more difficult.
“Honestly, this is one of the best tapes we've ever had,” Kusinski said.
One of the suspects, a juvenile, was charged with armed robbery. The other has been charged with criminal trespassing, as well as violating parole.
