Picture Ref: 77496-06THUGS who attacked a taxi driver and held him at knifepoint in West Swindon appear to have struck again.

But this time robbers targeted a driver who was getting into his car.

Swindon police are now warning the public to be on their guard and not to give strangers lifts in their car.

As we reported in the Advertiser on May 20, Keith Strange, a 51-year-old taxi driver endured a terrifying knifepoint attack by three hoodie-clad thugs.

The latest attack, which happened last Thursday just before midnight, was on a man who was persuaded to give two strangers a lift in his car.

Two men approached him as he got into his silver Peugeot 106 at Shaw Ridge Leisure Complex car park.

They convinced him to give them a lift to an address in Toothill.

But once they got into the car they persuaded him to take them to Old Shaw Lane.

There they forced him to hand over his mobile phone and a chain, worth £190, before running off.

The driver was not hurt but was shaken by the robbery.

Mr Strange was left terrified after he was attacked just days before this second man.

Like this latest robbery, the thugs managed to snatch Mr Strange's Siemens Orange mobile phone. They also stole a green cloth bag, containing £20 and his house keys.

He is shocked by this latest attack.

He said: "It will carry on unless the police catch them.

"They must be sick. I just feel really sorry for the guy.

"He's just Joe Public, it's not like he's paid to take people into his car.

"I think it's going to make people steer well clear of Swindon."

Since he was robbed Mr Strange has been too scared to drive to West Swindon.

He said: "My first night was scary, I only worked a few hours.

"I think I've changed as a taxi driver, I'm much more wary of people now, which I think is a shame."

Sgt Deborah Waters thinks the robbers, one a skinny white man and the second a stocky black man, could have carried out both robberies.

She said: "We are linking the two offences. We believe they could be the same people where the offences happened and what happened is very similar."

She added: "If members of the public are approached by anyone asking for a lift do not give them one. If you see anyone acting suspiciously call the police.

Police are appealing for witnesses to this latest robbery.

One suspect is described as white, 19 or 20 years old, of slim build and around 6ft tall.

He was wearing a long sleeved cream light-weight jumper with a coloured pattern design, blue jeans and white trainers.

The second suspect is black, in his early 20s, of strong muscular build and 5ft 8ins tall.

He wore a red and white striped baseball cap, red jumper and a gold hoop earring in his left ear.

If you have any information call Sgt Deborah Waters at Swindon Police on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Lyndsay Scanlan