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Video: Police looking for thugs who beat, robbed taxi driver in Southwest Philadelphia

Police are looking for two thugs who they say violently beat a taxi driver during a robbery in Southwest Philadelphia last week, then locked the driver in the trunk of the cab.

Police are looking for two thugs who they say violently beat a taxi driver during a robbery in Southwest Philadelphia last week, then locked the driver in the trunk of the cab.

In surveillance video from the 69th Street SEPTA Terminal in Upper Darby released by police Tuesday, two men believed to be the robbers are seen walking through the station shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday. Police said the pair hailed the cab outside the terminal and asked to be taken to Island Avenue and Lindbergh Boulevard in Eastwick.

When they got there, police said, one of the men pounced on the 53-year-old cab driver, wrapping a belt around his neck, while the other rifled through his pockets and took his wallet with $100 cash, debit and ID cards. The pair then brutally beat the driver, demanding that he give up the security codes to his cards, police said. They then locked him in the trunk of the cab and took off.

The driver was hospitalized in critical but stable condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, police said.

Police described the first suspect as black with a dark complexion, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 and husky, weighing about 190 pounds. He wore a dark hooded sweatshirt with a white logo on the front and white lettering on the back and light blue jeans. The second suspect is described as black with a medium complexion, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 and about 160 pounds. He wore a dark sweatshirt with a Penn State logo on the front and light blue jeans.

Tipsters who recognize the alleged robbers or have information about the crime are urged to contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183 or 3184. Tips can also be called in via the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477), emailed to tips@phillypolice.com, texted to PPD TIP (773847) or submitted online.