MINNEAPOLIS - Minneapolis Robbery investigators hope surveillance photos will identify a suspect in a series of cab robberies over the past week and a half.
Police say the first robbery occurred on October 6 at 1:15 a.m. after the suspect climbed in a cab at Lake Street and Chicago Avenue and drove to the 1400 block of 11th Avenue North.
The suspect pulled out a gun, hit the cab driver with the weapon, then fired two rounds before fleeing with the victim's money.
Investigators believe he robbed four more drivers in subsequent nights using the same method. The suspect entered cabs late at night or early in the morning, either threatened or struck the driver with a gun and ran off with money. He targeted drivers from Red and White Taxi, Rainbow Taxi, Arrow Taxi and The Minneapolis Cab Company.
In one case the suspect drove off with a cab.
Police says the suspect descriptions they received varied slightly due to language barriers with the victims, but they believe the same person is responsible for all the robberies. The man is described as between 5 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 1 inches tall with a medium build. He appeared to be in his 20s.
Victims also describe him as having a mustache, goatee and braided hair. During a couple of the robberies the suspect was wearing a black hat or combination black and red hat with a black winter jacket, black pants and carrying a backpack.
If you have any information about these cases please contact Sergeant Wallace Carlson of the Minneapolis Police Department Robbery Unit at 612-673-3856. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
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