Taxi Driver Helps Foil Gasoline Station Robbery
Several thieves were surprised to be chased by a taxi driver instead of the police when they attempted to rob a gasoline station in El Roble de Puntarenas early Monday morning.

The taxi driver said that he didn't fear risking his life in following the thieves who were attempting to rob the gasoline station where he was filling up at the time. The chase by taxi driver helped police arrested 8 assailants.

The name of the taxi driver is being withheld, fearing reprisals.

It was 6:30am when the tranquility of the Servicentro in El Roble was disrupted when eight men decided who faked needing to use the stations bathroom, turned on manager of the gasoline station, taking advantage that he would be alone at the time. The men pointed a gun to the head manager Eddy González and clerk Carlos Hernández who were both pistol whipped before being asked to hand over the loot.

Police say that the thieves were able to get some ¢4 million colones (us$7.900) in cash and made their getaway on four motorcycles and a blue vehicle that they had parked by the gasoline pumps.

The taxi driver, seeing what was going on, did not think twice to give chase and using his cellular phone to call police to tell them the story. The taxi driver kept police informed of the direction of the delinquents right to the where they had attempted to hide from the authorities.

Officials of the Fuerza Pública (police) say that two of the thieves quickly gave up. Within little time more police officials and agents of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) de Puntarenas were giving chase to the rest of the assailants, quickly rounding up the remaining six.