Women out late at night targeted by criminal cabbies

from Boston Crime Universal Hub by adamg
Boston Police report five incidents since October involving women who say they were attacked or raped by taxi and limo drivers between 11:50 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., most recently, the case of the Northeastern student picked up and allegedly raped in a cabbie's van on Dec. 7.
Two of the incidents involved women picked up in Park Plaza; the others were in Uphams Corner, on Atlantic Avenue and in Saugus (the Northeastern student). In two cases, the victims gave similar descriptions: A man, 5'8" and speaking with a foreign accent (in one of those cases, the woman described the driver as "Middle Eastern," in the other, she described him as "tan").
Police say women should avoid walking alone late at night, should not wear high heels, shouldn't accept rides from men in non-Boston cabs or personal vehicles and should never sit in the front seat. Also: Car keys make a useful weapon.