OLEAN, N.Y. — An Olean cab driver was robbed at gunpoint early Wednesday morning on Laurel Avenue, police said.
Investigators are aggressively pursuing leads into two unidentified black men who reportedly jumped into a parked Alle-Catt Taxi Service vehicle at about 1 a.m., brandished a handgun and demanded money from the driver, said Olean Police Capt. Robert Blovsky. The men, both of whom were described in their early 20s and as having an average build, took more than $100 cash and fled on foot toward the Allegheny River, he added.
No one was hurt.
“I think we have names of some people that we’re looking pretty hard at, although we’re not 100 percent,” Blovsky said. “I think there’s more people out there who know things or maybe have some information that could definitely point us in the right direction.”
Blovsky urged nearby residents and any other potential witnesses to come forth with information, if possible. The area where the vehicle was parked awaiting a passenger was dimly lit, away from streetlights and porches, he said.
“I mean, 1 o’clock in the morning, I would expect there would be some people up and about,” the police captain said. “If anybody saw anything, like anybody running anywhere, that would be helpful.”
The New York State Police also responded with a K-9 unit to assist.
The driver, who will not be identified, was not working Wednesday during a regularly scheduled day off, said Alle-Catt office manager Jeff Freeman.
“As far as I know, he’s OK,” he said.
Alle-Catt drivers have been held up in the past, Freeman said, noting they’re not permitted to carry weapons for self defense.
“I can’t say exactly when. It happens occasionally,” he added. “I consider it to be a dangerous job myself, personally. That’s my opinion.”
The driver told police the weapon may have been a semiautomatic handgun, Blovsky said. Police are working to recover the weapon, as well.
The alleged robbers were reportedly wearing blue jeans. One had a black hoodie and the other a gray hoodie.
“He was face to face with both of them, really,” Blovsky said.
Laurel Avenue is two blocks from the Olean City Police Department.
If found, the men could be charged with first-degree robbery, a class B violent felony; petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal possession of a weapon, the severity of which would be determined on a variety of factors including criminal histories and potential weapons permits.
“I’m just glad nobody was injured,” Blovsky said. “We haven’t really had anything like this happen in quite a while. We’re going to work hard on it and hopefully put some people in jail.”
Anyone with information can call 376-5672 or 376-5673. Calls can be kept confidential.
