London taxi driver faced theft allegations on Christmas Eve despite already arranging return of lost item with owner
A London cab driver faced an unexpected police investigation after being accused of theft when an item was left behind in his taxi on Christmas Eve. The incident, which unfolded during the festive period, highlights the challenges licensed taxi drivers can encounter when dealing with misplaced belongings.
According to Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), the cabbie had been in touch with the item’s owner and had called them to arrange its return. However, before the property was returned, the owner reported it stolen, leading to police involvement.
The LTDA intervened swiftly, with legal representatives arranging a police station interview for the driver in the New Year. McNamara noted the situation appeared to stem from misunderstanding and confusion rather than deliberate wrongdoing.
McNamara advised drivers to avoid such scenarios by handing lost items to the police immediately if a resolution cannot be reached with the owner. He stressed that doing so transfers responsibility and ensures drivers are not left vulnerable to accusations.
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), said in TAXI Newspaper: “On Christmas Eve, when most of us were winding down for the Christmas break, we had members involved in serious incidents.
“One member called us at 10am (Christmas Eve) with the police at his door over an allegation of theft over something left in his cab.
“One of our lawyers was able to speak to the police over the property left in the cab and arrange an appointment for our member to attend an interview at a police station in the New Year.
“We will attend and represent his interests and hopefully get it all cleared up, as it is now looking like one big mistake and confusion. The member had been liaising with the owner of the lost property, they had his number, he had called them, but because he had not instantly returned it, they had reported it stolen!
“Moral of the story and best advice I can give to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation would be that if someone is not prepared to be reasonable, pay the fare for returning it, or insists on it being returned to Timbuktu at 3am, hand it in to a police station, get a receipt and it’s no longer your problem, it’s theirs.”