Man arrested in counterfeit cab operation

Monday, April 3, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

A Las Vegas man has been arrested and accused of operating an illegal taxicab.

Donald Hatch, 37, was booked on charges of theft, possession of stolen property, possession of stolen license plates, driving an unregistered vehicle and ownership of altered license plates. He was apprehended by Nevada Taxicab Authority enforcement officers last week. Metro assisted in the investigation.

Hatch had worked for Yellow-Checker-Star Cab Co. between October 1998 and January.

The Taxicab Authority confiscated a 1991 Ford Aerostar van painted like a Checker cab March 22 and said it suspected other illegal cabs to be operating in the Las Vegas area. Authorities linked the case to the theft of five taxi meters from Yellow-Checker-Star, the city's largest taxi company, two months ago.

Authorities believe illegal operators could be making up to $500 a day with phony cabs in the area.

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