Calgary cab drivers threatened in overnight incidents

WATCH ABOVE: Calgary police are searching for a suspect who may have pulled off two taxi robberies both including a knife. Global’s Gary Bobrovitz reports.

CALGARY – Police are investigating the possibility that two cab drivers may have been attacked by the same person in the city’s southeast.

Officers were called to 22 Avenue and 59 Street N.E. just before 11 p.m. on Thursday for reports that someone had tried to rob a taxi driver.

The victim told investigators that a man in his early 20s threatened him with a knife and demanded money.

The suspect was able to escape. However, the cab driver wasn’t injured and no money was taken.

Two hours later, a different cab driver called investigators to say his taxi was stolen in a carjacking in the area of in 22 Street and 47 Avenue S.E.

The vehicle was later located by HAWCS Helicopter in the 5100 block of Hubalta Road S.E.

The suspect in both instances is described as a 20 to 25-year-old man in grey pants with a dark jersey and a backpack.

Police are in the process of reviewing CCTV surveillance footage from both instances.

Calgary police say they offer all members of the public the same words of warning when it comes to robberies of any kind.

“Comply with them,” advises Inspector Tom Hanson. “Give them what they want for the short term, and keep as much distance as you can.”