Cab driver Ralph Valletta started his shift with Reading Metro Taxi by being the victim of an attempted robbery. Luckily, there was a cop parked right behind him. Video use with permission by Reading Metro Taxi.
@@techkingdata9338 thank god he was smart and didn’t try sum like taking the guy hostage he saved his own life by listening to the cops edit: not saying the guy is smart but the situation could’ve turned deadly any second if he didn’t get out of the car
He’s lucky he didn’t get shot. He panicked and almost died because of it. He couldn’t give the criminal his wallet, like his brain locked up or something.
I feel so badly for the driver, he sounded so scared and upset, as anyone would be at that happening! ☹️ So glad the police officer was able to recognise what was happening, I don’t know how it was possible to tell from that far away!
the cop watched the robber get in the car in a hasty manner. The robber didn't sit back in a seat like a standard passenger would; robber was up at the center console for too long.
This makes me cry. He’s an older man who wants nothing but to live his life in peace. He’s already working hard as a cab driver. Can’t believe this man.
One thing most straight people don't seem to "get": criminals go after the _soft targets:_ older people, disabled people, kids. The sooner we understand this, the better we can learn to deal with crime.
Right? I feel like if the cop hadn't been there this could have turned out very differently. Guy was terrified to give up his phone because it is his whole life, and has no cash to give. Desperately trying to dig out his wallet from a back pocket, trying to get the guy to leave him alone, and accept that he has nothing. But the dude just keeps threatening him. Jesus.
Once in a while the police stumble into doing what's right. Only big issue is BLM will bail this person out if they haven't already. It's the sad state of affairs these days.
It wouldn't have mattered if he got shot, did you see the skin color of that robber? If that colored man was harmed in any way the world itself would be on guard attacking the police. It was the cab drivers fault for working obviously.
That officer was doing his job and he did a great job, but that doesn't make him an angel. Stopping criminals is what he's *meant* to do. It's police 101.
@Orange Hat Music, I don't think that dude had a brain to begin with. Why would you risk doing something like that in broad daylight with a cop literally parked right behind the cab driver? Task failed successfully
The relief in the guys voice is palpable - I hope it didn’t effect him too badly long term, it must have been very frightening for him. Hope you’re ok pal 👍
That cop probably took a second to make sure he was actually seeing what he thought he was seeing in the car in front of him 😂 "Are you kidding me right now?"
@@Hmm_Ace_Attorney_Channel yeah, no way he thought there was armed robbery in progress. Did not even have his gun out - approached so casually. If the robber was they type to do anything to get away from being improsned - would have blown the cops' head off to get away.
I don’t think people would understand quite how terrifying that would be unless it happened to you. Things like this could affect you for a long time. Could give you PTSD for life
I shed a tear on the way the taxi driver said “you’re a life saver”, he was just an innocent old man who wanted to make some money instead of being threatened for his life
Honestly though, trying to live an honest life and making money by driving people to their destinations. Next thing you know your being threatened to get a bullet in your head if you don't comply. Life could suck some times but this is beautiful.
@@dean43669 its the youtube algorithm, crime has increased by a lot since then with all the riots and defund the police so naturally more people are googling and youtube encounters such as this.
@@bobbyd9319 I don’t think so at all. If that was the case why did he go right for the rear door and order him out and on the ground? If it was simply him thinking the cab was taking so long he would have just gone on the loud speaker.
He was probably scared himself & unfortunately thought robbery was his very last resort in life. You can tell he’s really trying to sound threatening he even says “-if you don’t wanna die” then later one says “I’m not gonna hurt you”. He’s a conflicted man. I hope the cab driver recovers & I hope the thief makes better choices in life.
@@powerflumi You and I both know he meant “Lucky that the cop was there, alert, paying attention and able to act.” He didn’t mean the officer and his squad car just materialised out of the aether and the precise right time and place
Does anyone else feel like giving that poor taxi driver a hug? He looked so scared, that even though it's a video, it makes you want to comfort him. It's good that he wasn't hurt. I hope he's much better now. These things can traumatize you.
@@thrillhouse4784 look at the cop car in the back window of the taxi. If im not mistaken i believe it says sheriff in yellow letters on the front of the car
@S R the average in the USA is 98 If ya think about it. Most of the population in the US is the accumulation of 5000 years in fetal alcohol syndrome and inbreeding .
@@spidergoose891I don't believe in your religion. I'd recommend you reading Einstein saying the Bible was _"childish, primitive legend."_ - I follow his beliefs and I reject your god exactly the same way as you reject Allah and thousands of other gods. As false. You reject 2,999 gods and I reject just 1 more.
The way I saw it, the cop didnt know what was happening. He comes up to the car wondering why its not moving when the light turns green. Then, he makes the black man robber get out. Its the driver who tells the cop that he has a gun hidden on his body. Cop was still clueless.
@@Romulan112 "Then, he makes the black man robber get out" 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 there were only two men in the vehicle. One was the assailant, one was the victim. What's the point of using a race identifier? There are thieves in every race, what's the point of pointing out his race?
Saddest part was him saying “I just Started” and literally digging in his pockets pulling out lint telling him WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT??? I HAVE NOTHING! smh 🤦🏾♂️ i hate it when people like this take from hard working honest people. He’ll never forget this 😞
Its disgusting that people like this do this kinda stuff, desperation and bad upbringing can cause people to do the craziest stuff, but man, picking on people who are just trying to earn a living to support their families is f*cked.
It’s not desperation it’s laziness and entitlement. Anyone can get out of any situation in the USA. Get an education, get a job, or join the military! Problem solved!
and the award for dumbest criminal goes to.... seriously picking on the elderly man? in front of cops? is like asking for an intervention in your life.
The other day, I caught a guy trying to pick pocket a homeless person sleeping on the train. I felt like I could have breathed out flames, I was so furious.
Picking on a elderly man is not a dumb idea, maybe he didn't realise the cops, perhaps he thought the elderly man would not be able to scream for help as loud as a young man filled with energy
@@sarahperkins6421 Then maybe stand up for him? 😭 people like you are why things like this happen. Maybe instead of complaining, actually take action for once in your sad potato couch life
@@shisu6870I was about to say the same thing. What a dumb comment. This stuff happens everyday, we just never hear about it, or it doesn’t make any appearance on the news because it would go against the narrative they push.
God isn’t real. Otherwise, why isn’t he saving the 10 people that just got shot in the head in the time, I wrote this comment. Is his plan let those die and all the children from cancer. I just can’t comprehend how everyone bases their life on fictional books, we need to move on as a human race
He saw nothing. they were apparently stopped for a light, at a certain point you can see cop start to move up when the light presumably turned green but then stop short when the cab in front of him didn't move. after a few more seconds with the cab not moving, (probably only then noticing some potentially odd activity inside the cab) *then* he hits his lights & gets out of his car to walk up to the cab. You can hear him say "What's the problem here?" as he approaches the cab, apparently still not sure why it hasn't moved, but by the time he even finishes the sentence he probably already has a pretty good idea what's up.
I'll never understand how people has the guts to do that. Seeing a human being terrified like this man breaks my heart, I can't even imagine me being the reason of someone's pain.
well the Media tell a certain group of people that the racist other group is keeping them down and they deserve everything they got! what do you think will happen...
@@DaKeeg01 but the thing most people are for isn't defunding the police, it is better educating them, because you can't tell me that you can learn how to protect people within a year time.
@@siepvanzutphen2743 Defunding means literally *defunding*, which results in LESS education. Not to mention you're not advocating for people to stop committing crime, completely ignoring the problem
@@davelundergoesunder No bitch, you're racist and this comment proves it. Wrong is wrong no matter the color. How dare you compare social injustice with stupidity.
Either this guy is the dumbest robber, or an angel was watching the cab driver. I can imagine how many people are not so lucky to have a cop right behind them during a robbery.
@@jasonvidez388 literally everyone.... People in their homes, jobs, everyone. We can thank the anti cop, anti gun crowd. Well funded police force, and prisons + law abiding citizens carrying guns means way less crime, and the people who do commit crime are more likely to get caught, and convicted or blasted by a citizen using self defense.
I did when it happened to me. Otherwise they would have won. I wasn't even that nervous. It does test your character, however, when a gun is jammed up against your head.
@@MrsHouseTakeNewVegas I had money in my sock they never got. I took 3 days off and thought about it. When I returned in the 'mean streets of Vegas', I was a lot more cautious - not nervous because that would be stupid - I just paid closer attention. The Taxicab Authority told the drivers we couldn't refuse rides - you know, racism and all that - we told them to stuff it. We won. But that was way back in the 80's when there were only like 500 cabs. And no union at all.
@@skankhunt4220 He was a good bit too nervous for an actual sociopath, but people can justify a lot of crap behaviour to themselves, with us-vs-them tribal thinking often playing a major part since that alone _massively_ reduces any kind of empathy or compassion.
@@skankhunt4220 that is not what a sociopath is. A sociopath is a mental disorder rendering someone incapable of having emotions for other people. This guy clearly had a lot of emotions running through him so he was probably just extremely desparate for money
Yeah it's ironic how the robber is so dumb (not saying I agree he was right) But he didn't look around, and he didn't see the cop, but the cop can clearly just see him. I found it a bit ironic. The cop when up to the window and said get out... He says "don't fkin move, you understand? Do you have a gun on ya?" So he either saw it, or followed the cab because he thought the guy was suspicious
@@lvega5606 BLM is actually a bad movement and nobody can tell me otherwise. There's even a problem in the name. Why only stand for black people and not all people? Who cares what skincolour you have? Why do we even discriminate ourselves with that?
My dad was a cab driver for over 30 years. One night a knife was held against his rib cage in a robbery. It convinced me to never follow in his footsteps.
@@notwithoutrage BLACK LIVES MATTER. Unfortunately that terrorist group is no longer about black people. It’s just greed now and about spinning a Agenda. It’s sad since technically speaking MLK Jr started that movement and sick, twisted & demented people have to ruin it.
I’m sure you don’t get paid enough and yes life is hard but your comment after that is retarded. Nobody, regardless of occupation, deserves to be robbed.
It's always your "type" that sees a bunch of people when there is one person. Delusional Dr. Doo-Littles is what I call you types. You can understand them, can speak to them but you're not one of "them"! Sure!!!!
@@gilsgarageofficial Why try and take away from the cops good work for recognising a situation and acting , the guy had a gun that he could of easily used if the driver tried to fight him
I felt so bad for this man. He could be your grandfather. His voice when he said,"you're a life saver!' that just rips me up. The fear that poor man has to feel for no reason. Thank God that cop was there.
I second that! I could feel that man’s emotion it gave me goose bumps. My older brother is responsible for dozens of armed pharmacy robberies and thinks no one was hurt but big pharma…. That’s how a psychopath thinks…
@@commander.m1c919 Yes he did do jail time because it was the second time he had robbed 15 or more pharmacy’s within a ten year period . First time he only received probation he played the addiction card very well. Second time the judge didn’t believe him and gave him 2 yrs less a day which keeps it provincial jail time opposed to federal which is any sentence over 2years. In a nut shell the Canadian justice system is a joke. Canada is the place to be if you want to be a criminal they give at-least 2 chances to get good at whatever floats your boat!
The fear and terror in the Taxi drivers voice made my heart drop. A guy just trying to make ends meet is robbed by some low life scum bag. If this man continues to drive a Taxi I can't imagine the anxiety and fear he will have wondering if the next person is going to rob him again. I hope that he receives some kind of counselling. Bless this man and keep him safe and secure.
Time for the older gentleman to be a Walmart greeter. No sarcasm. Pick a *safer* way to make a buck. In the end, isn't he saying something about a heart attack? Edit: a 6 y/o video. Hope he's retired by now and enjoying a good golf game somewhere.
“It is so disturbing to sit up here and look at the face of a victim for some silly K2 and to see your mother, who works so hard,” the judge said. “She deserves more respect than this.”
He wasn't gonna get hurt, just give up the goods and continue to say aight aight aight, ok ok here u go! And live. I just wish cabby had that fire on him when he was going in his back pocket. That's the video I wanna see 🔥
Nah, he'll never recover fully. He'll be second guessing every passenger that comes in his vehicle, and he'll be watching his back like never before. Every time he sits in the driver's seat to do his job he'll remember the moment he was nearly robbed and possibly killed. He will definitely just learn to live with it, if anything he probably took leave or left the taxi job altogether. Either way I don't blame him. I got into a car accident. Was at a red light waiting to turn left when another vehicle making their right went all the way into my lane and hit me head on. Although I walked out with a mild concussion and no broken bones, I was thinking every car on the oncoming lane would veer off and hit me. I'd be sitting in the passenger seat and get flashes of a head on collision scenario. It's been months since the accident and Although I can drive, I still get those flashes of fear every so often. I still hate to be the first car at an intersection, especially if I'm making a left and there is construction because the person who sped right into me happened at an intersection with heavy construction. Pisses me off so much because I don't get why people plow through construction zones like that. For nearly three months I tried to avoid making left turns, I also avoided being first at an intersection. I would slow down enough that I could maybe get someone to overtake me or switch lanes so that I'd be behind someone. I'm still quite shaken up, everytime I get into my vehicle or anyone's vehicle I think of the accident. But at least it's not to the point it affects me ability to focus on the road. I never drive if I'm not 100% committed. If I feel slightly off, I do not get behind the wheel.
I doubt the robber did much time. I was robbed at gunpoint on 07/01/22. It was all caught on camera in front of a car wash. The guy (age 42) was picked up a week later and went to lockup for 30 days. His mom had posted bail ($25,000) then he disappeared... the bond was forfeited. Again he was picked up on a warrant and mom bailed him out a second time. again the bail was forfeited. There are warrants outstanding. At this point, I know where the guy lives but the detective tells me, the jails are overcrowded. I'm due back in court as a witness (along with two other witnesses) on 07/17/23. I know he'll will be a no show, but that's just the way things are.
My God. That poor man. Here he is just trying to make an honest living. Hearing his voice crack while telling the police what just happened made me cry. Thank God for that police officer.
@Spell-Check for Dumb People 🤦🤣 and u wanna know what u are? it starts with “d” and ends in “umbass” although, i’m not sure you’re at this reading level yet❤️
My heart broke for the cab driver, I can't imagine the amount of fear he was in. Thank God he wasn't physically hurt but, the emotional wounds may never heal.
Horrible thing to do. Lessons need teaching. REAL DETERRENT S.... NOT JUST REVOLVING DOOR. God grant this innocent hard working man a full recovery and maybe more .... There's always a kind soul watching.... The man needs a break.
I’d like to hear from cop haters now. And see the desperation and insanity of the protected species who did the robbery ? Imagine if he’d started fighting with cops like often happens ? Cops have a bloody dangerous job, it’s often seconds from disaster. That’s why people are stupid to fight or not follow orders. Then when sh*! happens people blame the cops. It’s insane. Look what they have to deal with.
It's truly terrible to see someone so innocent get robbed by someone so cruel. The cab driver is already working so hard to make a living. I'm glad he's ok.
This kind of situation always reminds me of FIGHT CLUB. This Taxi driver will now go back to school and finish his degree in Structural Engineering and Physics when he otherwise would not have!
That has to be one of the dumbest robbers in history. How can you be out on the street, consciously look for a car to rob, and not see the obvious police car right behind your chosen mark?!
@@daryldaryl913 Yeah, you can see his car slightly move forward, but it looks like he made a last minute decision to turn his lights on and surprise the robber. It was a good move, less he wanted to frighten the guy and the scene takes a bad turn.
It looks like he was a passenger that had been riding for some time, not someone that just jumped in the car, so he may not have noticed the cop car that got behind them in traffic. It's still stupid to rob someone in broad daylight, stopped in heavy traffic.
Kudos to the officer for noticing and connecting the dots. They're so often looking at a computer screen when stopped for traffic, and it couldn't have been easy to see enough to figure out what was going down from his perspective.
John Beckwith: Which is so odd! Because apparently he noticed the taxi didn't move forward at the green light until the light turned red again. Usually, if you don't move forward at the green light and there is a Cop behind you - the most likely scenario the Cop will flex the siren once or twice to get you moving. Not get out of the car and see what's going on as far as I know. But this Cop did it completely reversed. Honestly? This was a sheer luck turned of event. And it's always better for Cops to investigate first rather than to tag along with it thinking that it's a nothing burger situation.
They see life in a legal format empirically when so many civilians do not they see everyones secrets they have to to keep the order yes just a super hard working cabbie that guy was a massive terrorist sadist unforgivable to bully a hard working stressed out cab driver
@@metalnat27 Because cab drivers are never on their phones at traffic lights, so cop knew something was up, especially seeing movement in the backseat.
