A 26-year-old man was arrested following a robbery of a taxi driver in Alice Springs last night.

The 44-year-old taxi driver told police he picked up two men at the Casino around 4am. One of the men was dropped off near the corner of George Street and Larapinta Drive and paid his fare.

The second man asked to be taken to Spicer Crescent and when they arrived he refused to pay his fare. He allegedly grabbed the taxi-driver and asked him where he kept his cash. The driver was able to break free of the man and got out of the taxi, but the offender followed him and punched him to the face. The driver then ran up the road and hid in bushes and the offender got into the vehicle and drove off.

He then drove it around the block and abandoned the vehicle. Police arrived and set up a crime scene and when the crime scene guard was about to leave, the alleged offender appeared and asked police for a ride home. He was arrested and later charged with:
Robbery
Unlawful use of a motor vehicle
Stealing
Fail to pay a taxi fare
Drive unlicensed.

He was bailed to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court on July 6.

Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
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0419 803 603