Page 11
Call Sign September 2011
Keith and the
"I was sitting on the Bank Street E14 rank read-
ing Call Sign," Keith Perry (W07) told our
reporter, "when suddenly both carriage doors
flew open, two men in their thirties jumped in
great taxi getaway!
and told me to `go go go! Get moving quick-
ly.... now!' So I decided to pull away and then
ask them where they wanted to go because
they did seem to be in an awful big hurry!"
"I only got about 40 yards down the road
Keith Perry - unwittingly
and was then aware of a great commotion
involved in a Jewel robbery?
behind me. Looking in my rear view mirror, I
saw a group of people, some in suits, others
spoken to earlier requested she
in Canary Wharf security uniforms running
search the back of the cab I
towards my cab, shouting and waving their
assume for jewels - but she found
arms at me to stop!"
nothing. The police were not too
Having gained our attention, Keith contin-
happy when they found out
ued his tale. "I started to slow down, wonder-
though, because she had inadver-
ing what all the fuss was about but the two
tently entered a `crime scene'
passengers demanded that I kept going. I
which may have affected any
explained that I had to stop because my cab
subsequent forensic evidence.
and its' licence numbers of course, would be
Then while one of my `passen-
on the security cameras and could easily be
gers' was still handcuffed to the
traced. As the cab ground to a halt with the
police officer, the officer also
involved in something less honourable!"
two passengers shouting for me to keep
asked me if I had witnessed anything, to which
"Then a man came up to me and introduced
going, we were immediately surrounded by
I again replied in the negative. It was only after
himself from the CW Security Centre and asked
the posse of people who had been chasing us,
I had convinced everybody concerned that I
if I had witnessed anything. I told him I did not
with Canary Wharf security personnel leaning
had nothing to do with the incident, other than
even know from which direction they had
across the rear doors to prevent my passen-
to transport the men 40 yards or so, that I was
come before entering my taxi. Then it was my
gers from escaping. At the same time, a CW
allowed to go on my way. I also searched the
turn to ask questions; who were my passen-
security truck shuddered to a stop across the
back of the cab very thoroughly indeed, but
gers and what was this all about? The man then
front of the cab, preventing me from moving
sadly found no jewels, only a DLR single jour-
explained that my passengers were alleged to
another inch, not that I was going to! It was
ney train ticket! I have no idea what happened
have robbed a jewellery shop in the precinct.
absolute mayhem," Keith added.
to the two men, I only know that I went back
At that point a lady came forward saying she
"There were still lots of noises, raised voices
to work and without any `treasure' on board, it
was from the shop, had seen what had hap-
and the `wow-wow' of a police siren as the
was no early finish for me!" With that, Keith
pened and it was all on security cameras."
boys in blue arrived on the scene. Still confused
smiled philosophically and drove off...
Keith continued his amazing story: "By this
about what exactly was going on, I thought it
time the police had handcuffed and presumably
might be some sort of filming job and then it
© Call Sign Magazine MMX1
arrested the two passengers while the lady I had
dawned on me that I might unwittingly be
