"CASH CAB" HELD UP IN ENGLEWOOD

Chicago: Ben Bailey the personable host and driver of the “Cash Cab” on the television show by the same name, was held up today at 7:30 p.m.  in the area of

71^st Street

and Halsted. The incident started when the host of “Cash Cab”, not being familiar with the Chicago area, rode into the Englewood neighborhood and picked up four male passengers who appeared to be flagging the “Cash Cab” down.

“Crime in Chicago 2011 obtained these exclusive pictures and transcripts of the recorded conversation which started after the four young men entered the “Cash Cab” and the multi-colored “Cash Cab” lights activated.

Ben Bailey: Welcome to the Cash Cab!

Four young men: What the fuck? Damn dog! What kind of shit does this be?

Ben Bailey: You’re in the Cash Cab. What’s your destination?

Unknown passenger: We be Vice Lords mo-fo!

Ben Bailey: No, I mean where are you going?

Unknown passenger: Ah shit dog, you a fool. We going to the spot, get us some chronic.

Ben Bailey: Ok, this is how it works. I’ll ask you questions and if you’re able to answer them, before you get three wrong and you reach your destination, I mean spot, you’ll win money. Now the questions will get harder as we go along. The first set of questions will earn you fifty dollars each. The last set will be worth one hundred dollars. Do you want to play?

Four young men; Hell yeah! You the man! Fo sure! Damn dog!

Ben Bailey: Here's your first question.In what year did WWII end?

Unknown passenger: I don’t be knowing, but this “45” knows (pointing a gun at the host) give up all the money fool

Ben Bailey: 1945 that’s right. Here’s your money.

Recording ends with the sound of the cab doors opening and the suspects running off, laughing.

Chicago Police spokeswoman Anita Dix related that a preliminary review of the show’s video tape indicates that the four passengers may have been throwing up gang signs and not flagging now the cab. Spokeswoman Anita Dix also related that the suspects were four males who appeared to be between 17 to 21 years old. Their race could not be determined because they had their faces covered.

When informed by Police spokeswoman Anita Dix that the suspects were not flagging him down and therefore there was no crime committed. The robbery victim responded angrily stating that he had  already been caught up in a city sting operation and fined for not stopping for a large group of minority males and he wasn’t taking the chance of getting fined again and losing his taxi license.

 Three thousand dollars was taken during the non-crime and Ben Bailey related to Police that he was shaken and angry, but not injured.

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