[PublicAnimalNo9]

Many moons ago, I was a dispatcher for one of the cab companies where I lived.
It was bar rush time and one of our regulars called for a cab. IT was busy so I told him to sit tight and have another beer and I'd get one to him ASAP. He called 2 more times after to see if a cab was on the way. About 40 minutes after his first call, he calls one last time and tells me there's a cab right out front and can he just grab that one. I told him go ahead.
About 10 minutes later, I see one of our competitors cabs pull into our parking lot. Next thing I know, in comes the guy that had been calling and waiting for a cab. HE threw me the keys and the fare for the trip.
What had happened was, he saw a cab outside the bar and it was empty, including no driver so he drove the cab himself.
Now, considering he dropped the cab off in our lot(even though it wasn't one of our cabs), paid the fare and handed over the keys, is this theft? IS it considered grand theft auto?
I know myself and the dispatcher for our competitors found it rather amusing.

[Brenda]

Yes, it is. It is NOT his car, he drove it without the owners consent.

(although it is a funny story )

[Bodah]

He's lucky you guys found it amusing.

[DrCaleb]

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

Now, considering he dropped the cab off in our lot(even though it wasn't one of our cabs), paid the fare and handed over the keys, is this theft? IS it considered grand theft auto?

He deprived someone of using their rightful property.

It is theft.

[Choban]

Only if charges are pressed by the owner of the vehicle in question.
My question is, aren't most cab drivers the owners of their vehicles? so while dispatch may find it funny the driver may not (though why he's dumb enough to leave his keys in the car???)

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Choban wrote:

Only if charges are pressed by the owner of the vehicle in question.
My question is, aren't most cab drivers the owners of their vehicles? so while dispatch may find it funny the driver may not (though why he's dumb enough to leave his keys in the car???)

In this case, I'm not sure if the owner was driving that night. Many owners also lease their cabs to "part-timers".
Whoever was driving it that night didn't press charges as he got the cab back with no harm done to it and the fare for the "trip".
I think another reason may have been that the cops tend to really rag on you for getting your car stolen if you left your keys in it and running.

[Brenda]

So what did this guy want a cab for anyway if he just "grabbed" one and drove it to your lot?

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Brenda wrote:

So what did this guy want a cab for anyway if he just "grabbed" one and drove it to your lot?

He lived about 2 blocks from our lot. He always came to the office when he got a cab and then walked the 2 blocks home. Same when he was heading out. He'd walk to the office and wait for a cab.

[acidcomplex]

Brenda wrote:

So what did this guy want a cab for anyway if he just "grabbed" one and drove it to your lot?

to bang the dispatcher

[Brenda]

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

Brenda wrote:

So what did this guy want a cab for anyway if he just "grabbed" one and drove it to your lot?

He lived about 2 blocks from our lot. He always came to the office when he got a cab and then walked the 2 blocks home. Same when he was heading out. He'd walk to the office and wait for a cab.

That makes sense

[SprCForr]

Topic moved.