Police and Council licensing chiefs are warning people to make sure that cabs they flag down are genuine, after a spate of thefts of taxi radios.

Police are concerned the radios might have been stolen for use in bogus taxis and are fearful unsuspecting female passengers may be picked up and attacked.

They are also warning taxi drivers to remove call radios from their cars at night, to avoid being targeted.

In the area covered by Bradford North Police, radios have been stolen from five taxis, in Thornbury, Great Horton, Manningham and Heaton.

Detective Inspector Noel Devine, of Bradford North CID, said the thieves could put the radios in their cars and then pretend to be taxi drivers.

He said: "They have been known to go out and tout for business around the nightclubs. You are not meant to flag down private hire vehicles but some people think it is quicker than queuing at a taxi rank.

"It is a concern that these people could be prowling on Friday and Saturday nights, especially with students coming back to the city.

"These people would charge you more for the fare, they are unlicensed and uninsured, and you don't know who they are."

He added: "It is a genuine concern that these radios could be used for this purpose and people could get into a car which is not a proper taxi, with all the potential dangers. It has happened in the past and women, in particular, need to know who is driving a car."

He also urged taxi drivers to take their radios out of their cars at night.

Andy Mellor, senior licensing inspector for Bradford Council, said they had not been made aware of the radio thefts, but agreed with the police advice. He said licensing officers had a zero tolerance policy for enforcing licensed taxi driving.

Mr Mellor said: "Our inspectors are out every weekend and we have had no complaints about bogus taxi drivers in the last two years. We have caught one or two people trying to pick people up.

"Every licensing authority has a problem of unlicensed people driving around and there may be one or two in Bradford.

"But we are high profile and we are always out frightening people off. We have had local authorities coming from Manchester, Liverpool and other places coming to see how we enforce."

Mr Mellor said private hire vehicles had to display yellow plates externally and internally. He added: "Ask to see the driver's badge and if they do not have one, don't get in, but take details of the vehicle and report it to the police or us."

e-mail: steve.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk