Unwitting cab driver 'robs' home

A MAN who allegedly broke into an Ipswich home called a cab to help him lug his loot from the scene.

The unwitting taxi driver even helped to load the stolen goods, including a 50 inch plasma TV, into his cab, before helping the alleged thief escape, Ipswich Magistrates Court heard.

Clint Eric Hutchinson is accused of breaking into a Springfield home last week before using his own mobile phone to order a Yellow Cab under the name, “Clint”.

He then allegedly asked the cab driver to help him carry the TV, a DVD player, remote control car, vacuum cleaner and Nintendo Wii to the cab.

A neighbour spotted the cabbie helping Hutchinson allegedly carry the stolen property from the home before they got in the cab and drove away.

Hutchinson was allegedly caught on the taxi's CCTV cameras and the driver provided a detailed description of the suspect.

The 29-year-old has not yet entered a plea to any of his 11 charges which include entering a dwelling, fraud and stealing.

The court was told Hutchinson was accused of breaking into a school at Toowong to steal glassware.

He also allegedly sold stolen gold jewellery to pawn brokers and stole money from his ex-girlfriend.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin granted Hutchinson bail to reappear on August 15.

The court heard Hutchinson, from Camira, was a recovering methamphetamine addict, but he tested clean to two recent drug tests under his probation order.

Mr Fairclough said his client had the support of his parents and he was attending TAFE.

Yellow Cabs general manager Bill Parker said the business was happy to co-operate with police investigations.

“It's an incident we'd prefer not to have happened,” Mr Parker said.

“Modern technology used in dispatching cars these days gives access to a lot of data regarding taxi travel which is for the safety and security of the customer and the driver.

“We were pleased we were able to facilitate the police in their investigation due to the modern technology in the cab.”

“All our cabs have cameras in them.”

Mr Parker said the company received more than a million calls every week and could not monitor customers' intentions.

“We don't question where they want to go – it's none of our business,” he said.