A WOMAN was hospitalised after being injured when a serial taxi thief stole the cab she was loading with shopping.

Rita Hammond was putting bags of groceries into the boot when the thief jumped into the driver's seat and drove off.

The open boot lid swung down and hit her in the head and face.

Mrs Hammond, of Down Terrace, Brighton, was taken to the town's Royal Sussex County Hospital, with concussion, bruising and an eye injury.

It was the fifth time the taxi thief has struck in as many days.

He lies in wait by pick-up points and pounces as soon as drivers get out to help customers.

He drives off, abandons the vehicles a few streets away, and steals the drivers' cash.

Mrs Hammond, a 51-year-old housewife, and her 60-year-old disabled husband, William, were loading their shopping outside Safeway in St James's Street, Kemp Town.

Furious

Mr Hammond said: "We had read about the thief in the Argus and I must admit it made us laugh a bit. This was a bit funny too, seeing the taxi speeding off with the car boot lid flapping up and down.

"But what happened to Rita

wasn't clever and everyone should be warned.

"The cabbie was furious - she chased after her car up the road."

The cab was later found abandoned in nearby White Street, minus the driver's takings.

One Hove Streamline driver lost £500 in cash and belongings when her cab was stolen from outside the Waitrose supermarket in Western Road, Brighton.

The car was later found abandoned at Churchill Square.

Police have warned cab companies to step up security and for drivers not to leave keys in ignitions.

Witnesses and anyone with information about the thief should call the Brighton police crime desk on 0845 6070999.

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