Two Ottawa taxi drivers have been robbed by passengers within a 24 hour period.
Police say a taxi driver was robbed early Thursday morning by a male passenger.
The driver was able to escape and police say the suspect took off with the taxi.
Another driver was robbed by two male fares at about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday.
When the driver got out of his cab to escape, it was also stolen.
Police were able to locate both stolen taxis at nearby locations a short time after the robberies.
Both drivers were assaulted during the incidents but neither one was seriously injured.
The robberies come the same week taxi drivers led a two-day protest over a city bylaw requiring them to install security cameras in their cabs.
"They're asking us to pay for a camera $1,300 to $1,500 so they could keep an eye on us," Mohamad Alsadi, a representative from the Canadian Auto Workers Union, told CTV News.
Mayor Larry O'Brien said Wednesday that the surveillance cameras are being installed to protect public safety.
Cab drivers say they don't buy that argument.
"The mayor's comments today were completely insensitive and they reflect the fact and the fact is the camera has absolutely nothing to do with our safety," Alsadi said Wednesday.
Taxi drivers say they are going to ignore the bylaw, even it means losing their licenses. They say the cameras are expensive and violate privacy rights.
Many taxi drivers are threatening to strike over the issue. An emergency meeting to discuss the bylaw is scheduled for Thursday night
