Good Samaritans Help Foil Robbery and Catch Taxi Thief

Good Samaritans attempted to aid a city cab driver who was allegedly choked by a thief in his car Monday, causing the suspect to abort the robbery and flee before being caught by White Plains Police.

Alvin Barden, who stays at the Open Arms men’s shelter at 86 E. Post Road, was charged with attempted robbery in the third degree for this incident, as well as robbery in the first degree for threatening and stealing from a taxi driver on Saturday.

Barden and another man were picked up by a city taxi from Executive Billiards around 9:30 p.m. Monday and were drove to , police said.  Barden paid $6, and then asked to be taken to Yonkers. The cab driver refused and agreed to bring Barden to the bus station.

As the cab driver was making a U-Turn, a police report said—Barden allegedly began to choke the cab driver and demand money. The second man in the cab jumped out of the taxi, and ran up Westview Avenue.  Police say they don’t think this man is involved with the two robberies, at this time.

The cab driver stopped in front of 141 Ferris Ave. when people outside tried to get help. Barden fled and ran up Richards Street. He was found shortly after hiding behind scaffolding at 155 Ferris Ave., according to the reports.

Police said they believe Barden is behind a similar incident that occurred around 5 a.m. Saturday morning in front of 220 Ferris Ave—where a thief told a cab driver he was holding a gun to the cab driver’s head before stealing a cell phone and $160. These items were not recovered. 

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