NYPD investigating series of robberies, carjackings targeting cab drivers in NYC

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Thieves are targeting New York City cab drivers, and in some cases, their cars have been stolen. This could be part of a pattern in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Cab driver Bamory Sanogo described a terrifying ordeal. He said minutes after picking up a fare near Hampden Place and Fordham Road in the Bronx, things quickly went south. He said his passengers, a man and a woman became his attackers.

"She open the door and put hand in my pocket and take all my money," Sanogo said.

In the blink of an eye, about $130 was gone. The duo also took off with Sanogo's car. Sanogo is a father of four and the sole provider for his family; without a car, he can’t work.

Apparently, what happened to him, Fernando Mateo, founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said, is part of a disturbing pattern or trend of cabbies becoming victims while doing their jobs, beaten and robbed.

Since the beginning of April, police have been looking into several incidents at least eight incidents, all in the Bronx and one in Brooklyn. Mateo said it’s a disturbing pattern or trend and, in most cases, violent.

“NYPD is doing their very best to stop this crimes but they need the publics help. We must STOP these assaults at gunpoint before someone gets killed. Knives and guns are the weapons of choice and it’s scary. We don’t know what can happen and our advise to drivers is to give it all up, don’t fight back, don’t chase these people because you can lose your life”, said Mateo.

Mateo is increasing the reward from $5,000 to $7,500 for information leading to an arrest, hoping to end what he calls the revolving door of bail reform.