Taxi Driver Thwarts Robber with 'Ugly-Looking Teeth': Cops

A taxi driver avoided a robbery by putting his cab in reverse and knocking a would-be robber off his feet as he attempted to retrieve the driver’s money from the trunk, according to police reports.

Oak Lawn police took a report for a robbery that happened on Sept. 27. The driver said he picked up a passenger in the 4200 block of South Wallace Avenue in Chicago.

The passenger, described as a white male with a goatee and “ugly-looking teeth,” asked to be driven to 900 block of South Ridgeland Avenue, police said.

As they were approaching Ridgeland, the passenger asked the driver to turn his headlights off so he wouldn’t wake up anyone in his house.

When the driver refused, the passenger allegedly told him he had two options: “Either you’re going to give me everything in this cab and everything you made today, or you’re not going to see your family again.”

Police said the driver asked the passenger if he had gun, to which he replied, “yeah, I do.” The driver then told the passenger all the money he made was in the trunk of the cab.

The passenger told the driver to pop open the trunk. As the passenger began to step out of the cab, the driver said he put the car in reverse and quickly stepped on the gas, causing the suspect to fall.

The driver left the area as quickly as he could. Police said the driver did not see the passenger display a gun.

Police said the driver was too shaken to initially report the robbery attempt. Instead, the driver called his employer to say he couldn’t continue working that night and needed to go home.

Police are reviewing video from the cab. The investigation is ongoing.