Cabbies under attack

By Callan Date
THREE taxi drivers came under attack during a three-hour assault spree across the City of Casey on Sunday morning.
Drivers were targeted in Berwick, Endeavour Hills and Harkaway with a knife and a plank of wood two of the weapons used in the unrelated crimes.
The worst incident resulted in a driver being threatened with a knife and then robbed after dropping two men off in Endeavour Hills.
Police said the men, who were picked up in South Melbourne, asked the driver to stop near the corner of James Cook Drive and Charles Green Avenue about 3am.
One of the attackers then produced a knife and demanded the driver, a 32-year-old man, give him some money.
The men fled after getting a small amount of cash. The driver was not injured in the attack.
A driver also had money stolen after stopping his mini bus taxi in High Street, Berwick about 5.45am.
The 21-year-old Epping man was punched to the face after dropping three men off. He had earlier collected the threesome, along with four other men, from Melbourne.
Casey Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Larry Grimshaw said two of the men got out of the cab before the third man said he couldn’t pay the fare. He then punched the driver and stole a small amount of cash from his shirt pocket.
“The victim gave chase along High Street but then returned to his vehicle,” Det Sgt Grimshaw said.
Only hours earlier a Dandenong Taxi driver was flagged down by seven men while driving along Harkaway Road.
The men, aged in their 20s, began to talk to the driver while one member of the group went to the rear of the car and smashed it several times with a piece of wood.
Det Sgt Grimshaw said no demands were made by the group, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
He said the taxi sustained minor damage to the front and rear doors.
The driver was able to drive off soon after.
Det Sgt Grimshaw said police would review security footage from all three taxis in an attempt to track down the attackers.
Anyone with any information about any of the crimes is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.