Teenage girl arrested for attacks on taxi drivers

File photo / NZ Herald

A 17-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with a number of attacks on Wellington taxi drivers.

Detective Constable Craig Whitley of Wellington CIB said the woman was allegedly involved in two serious incidents involving drivers for the Wellington Combined company on August 29.

"The first is alleged to have occurred around 2.45pm when she took a taxi from Karori to Wainuiomata. Once the taxi arrived at her destination, she fled with a sum of money," Mr Whitley said.

"Later that same day, around 8.30pm, it's alleged the offender caught a taxi from Lambton Quay to Karori and assaulted the taxi driver with a blunt instrument, before fleeing with the taxi driver's purse."

Mr Whitley said luckily the taxi driver did not suffer any injuries, however the third alleged incident was more serious.

On September 5 the offender is alleged to have caught a taxi in Karori and after the taxi driver had driven her a short distance, she assaulted him with a knife.

"She has then allegedly used the weapon to strike the taxi driver in the side of the head and in the ensuing struggle bit his finger, which required surgery."

Mr Whitley said police are doing all they can to ensure taxi drivers in Wellington can feel safe while at work.

The woman's charges include aggravated robbery, robbery and theft and she appeared in the Wellington District Court yesterday. She will reappear on Friday.

- NZ Herald staff