Bucharest taxi driver arrested after stealing British passenger’s phone and draining €3,000 from bank accounts
Romanian police have detained a taxi driver in Bucharest on charges of stealing a British passenger’s smartphone and, with two accomplices, siphoning approximately €3,000 from the victim’s bank accounts. The suspects allegedly unlocked the device and used installed banking apps to purchase clothing, officials said. The same driver is also accused of stealing 15,000 Romanian lei (around €3,000) from another client in a separate incident, according to reports by *Adevărul* and *Digi24* .
Prosecutors placed the 32-year-old driver in pre-trial detention on Friday. Investigators say the group targeted at least two victims, exploiting stolen phones to access mobile banking and make unauthorized transactions. The British victim reported the theft after noticing suspicious purchases on his account, prompting authorities to trace the transactions to the taxi driver and his associates.
The case highlights growing concerns over digital theft in ride-hailing services, with police urging passengers to secure their devices and monitor financial activity during and after taxi rides. No further details on the accomplices’ identities or the victims’ identities have been released.