Thieves Targeting Orlando Pedicabs
Drivers Carry Wads Of Cash At Night
POSTED: Friday, March 2, 2007
UPDATED: 8:49 pm EST March 3,
2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Thieves in downtown Orlando are targeting and robbing pedicab drivers in places where the cabbies and their customers have no place to hide, according to a Local 6 News report.
Pedicab drivers said they are being attacked because criminals are aware that they carry a wad of cash at the end of each night.
"Criminals see the pedicabs as easy money, and drivers say they are being singled out more and more," Local 6's Jessica D'Onofrio said. "Many of them are now choosing to carry mace."
"We work really hard out here," pedicab driver Chris Evans said. "We sweat every night for this money, and they think they can just take it like that."
Thursday night, a new driver for Orlando Pedicab was robbed at gunpoint by two men on the corner of Central Boulevard and James.
After a chase and an officer-involved shooting, police took Antonio Scott and Cordarrol Fulton into custody, Local 6 News reported.
"(Robberies) have happened so many times, it is getting frustrating," pedicab driver Derek Williams said.
Many of the drivers are calling for police to patrol the darker corners of downtown Orlando. But, for now, they are looking out for each other.
"We have a fairly tight-knit driver community and look out for each other," manager of Orlando Pedicab Craig Franzoni said.
Some of the criminals have posed as customers, so drivers are being careful as to where they'll agree to take people after dark, according to the report.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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