London police are searching for two suspects after two women were groped after getting into what they believed were unmarked cabs.
Police say the first incident happened around 1am Sunday when a woman left a downtown bar, hopping into an SUV.
Shortly after getting into the beige or grey SUV, which police say may have been a Toyota, it's alleged the driver inappropriately touched the woman. She was able to get out of the vehicle without further harm.
Roughly an hour later, another woman getting into what she thought was unmarked cab after leaving a different downtown bar was kissed and touched inappropriately by the driver.
Police say the driver tried to stop the woman from getting out of the vehicle but she managed to escape. The vehicle is described as a four-door black sedan with leather interior.
The male driver in the first incident is described being between 50 and 60-years-old with a tanned complexion and a slight accent. He had short white/grey hair, scruffy facial hair, and was wearing thin square-framed glasses.
The male driver in the second incident is described as being in his mid to late 20’s, possibly of Middle-Eastern decent, approximately 5’8” with a slim to medium build. He was clean shaven with black hair.
Constable Sandasha Bough says police cannot confirm whether these drivers were working for a cab or ride sharing company.
"At this point we have no indication that would allege any company at all," says Bough. "We do know however that both of these females entered these vehicles that they believed to be unmarked taxi cabs and both of these females were sexually assaulted.Tthey were inappropriately touched by separate individuals in two separate vehicles."
Bough says it is important for people to always use caution when accepting rides.
"We are encouraging people to be aware of from whom they accept rides. Don't enter a vehicle if you are unfamiliar with it, if it's unmarked, if you don't know who is driving it."
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call police at at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
