Hunt for taxi suspects (From York Press)

Hunt for taxi suspects

8:18am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Harrogate and Ripon news

HARROGATE police have released these CCTV images of five men suspected of conning a taxi driver.

The suspects flagged down a passing cab near the Viper Rooms in Parliament Street at around 3am on October 30 and asked to be taken to Skipton, after agreeing a £50 fee with the driver.

As the cab approached Skipton, the men decided they wanted to go to Cross Hills and asked the driver to take them there instead. Once they arrived in Cross Hills, at about 4am, the men requested the driver stopped at the 24-hour garage in Station Road, so they could go to the shop.

The driver agreed and all five men got out of the taxi, but did not return.

Police inquiries have established none of the men went into the shop and instead left the garage via some steps at the side of the car wash, which lead to another area of Cross Hills.

Officers obtained CCTV stills from the garage forecourt and are appealing to anyone who recognises the men to come forward.

If you recognise the men in the images or have any information that could help the investigation, phone North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be phoned anonymously on 0800 555 111.