Man's on trial for theft when posing as cab driver

A man stood trial on Thursday for allegedly posing as a taxi driver and robbing passengers in Beijing six times, Beijing News reported.

The 32-year-old suspect, surnamed Zhang, from Pinggu district, Beijing, robbed more than 90,000 yuan ($14,720) from passengers from December 2012 to January, the prosecutor said.

In November 2012, Zhang rebuilt a scrap taxi to appear genuine, even installing a top light and a taxi meter. He rented a license plate number from a real taxi owner for 13,000 yuan a year, according to the prosecutor.

Zhang would tell his passengers, most of whom he picked up at the airport, that the trunk had not closed and ask them get out and close it again, the prosecutor said. Once the passenger exited the vehicle, he would drive away with their luggage.

He was caught by police in January after he robbed a passenger.

The court did not issue a verdict on Thursday.