A MAN has been charged and five people arrested after a series of robbery attempts on taxi drivers responding to pre-booked fares in Basingstoke.

The first incident took place at 11.40pm on Friday, September 26, when a taxi driver pulled up outside the Westside Community Centre in Paddock Road, South Ham.

A man threatened the driver with a knife and made off with some cash, police said.

The next day at 10.10pm, a taxi driver pulled up outside Aldworth School, in Western Way, South Ham, but drove off when he saw a man holding a knife approaching the car and demanding cash.

Thirty minutes later, at 10.40pm, a taxi driver pulled up in Cleaver Road, South Ham. A man opened the driver’s door and tried to pull him out of the car.

The taxi driver, who fought him off, wasn’t injured and nothing was taken.

A 22-year-old man, of no fixed abode, has been charged with a single count of robbery. He appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

A 16-year-old girl, a 26-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, all from Basingstoke, have been arrested in connection with this investigation and have been released on bail.

A 17-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man, both from Basingstoke, have been arrested and are currently in police custody.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Mills at Basingstoke CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.