IMAGE APPEAL: Northumbria Police investigating reports of knifepoint robbery attempts on cabbies

Image credit: Northumbria Police

Northumbria Police officers have released an image of a man they are looking to trace as they investigate reports that a woman was threatened with a knife and two taxi drivers were victims of attempted robberies in North Tyneside.

Shortly after midnight on Friday morning, they received a report that a man had approached a woman while she was on a platform at Whitley Bay Metro Station.

The offender then drew a knife and threatened the woman before leaving the scene.

At about 12.20am, it was reported that a man approached a taxi driver who was in his vehicle outside Dixy Chicken, on Whitley Road.

The offender is then reported to have drawn a knife and demanded that the driver give him all of his money. However the driver was able to get away from the offender.

Then at 1.50am, outside the Fire Station pub on Whitley Road, another taxi driver reported that a man entered his taxi and pulled out a knife before demanding money.

The driver refused to do so and the offender made off.

Officers are investigating all three reports, which they believe to be linked.

Today, officers have released an image of a man they would like to trace.

He was in the area at the time the offences were reported to have taken place and they believe he may be able to assist them with their enquiries.

Anyone who knows who the man is should use the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the police force's website or call 101, quoting crime reference numbers 106395F/23, 106396D/23 or 106372T/23.