Seattle police arresting 22 cabbies accused of trafficking in stolen property

Seattle police arresting 22 cabbies in theft bust

SEATTLE — Seattle police are arresting 22 cab drivers accused of trafficking in stolen property. The arrests announced Thursday come after a 10-week undercover operation that targeted what police call an open air market for stolen goods that’s been operating in the Westlake Avenue area of downtown Seattle.

The project was launched to deal with significant increases in downtown retail theft.

Surveillance showed shoplifters taking stolen goods to a cab stand near the Westin Hotel and peddling them to drivers waiting there for fares. Police followed up with an undercover detective posing as a shoplifter.

Police say there are 2,500 licensed taxi drivers in the Seattle area.