Another city cabbie has been attacked by three people — including two youth — days after a similar assault.

Police in Mill Woods were called to a cab in distress at 28 Avenue and 50 Street at 2 a.m. Thursday, said Staff Sgt. Tom Farquhar.

Three people, two of them minors, punched, kicked and threatened the cab driver.

They fled the scene on foot.

The driver suffered multiple abrasions and bruises to his face, none life-threatening.

But thanks to the sharp nose of a police dog, they were found cowering in a loading dock at the Safeway just blocks away, said Farquhar.

“it’s pretty miraculous for a dog track to go that long,” he said. “My hat goes off to the dog.”

The three suspects have been charged with assault causing bodily harm.

On Wednesday, a male taxi driver was approached by a group of teen males and robbed of cash and his vehicle at around 1 a.m.

The cabbie was pulled over in his Yellow Cab in the area of 79 Street and 90 Avenue when a truck full of males stopped nearby and approached the vehicle, said police spokeswoman Karen Carlson.

The cabbie opened the door and started to get out of the vehicle when he was robbed of cash. He fled the area and watched as the group reportedly drove away in the cab.

A downtown division officer later spotted the taxi near 95 Street and 111 Avenue and followed it until a police helicopter arrived and took over.

As the car headed to Victoria Trail and travelled west on Yellowhead Trail,

police deployed a spike belt around 40 Street and caused the vehicle to drive off the road and hit a light post.

Four males then got out of the taxi and started to run. Three immediately

surrendered and were arrested after Air-1 shone lights on the group, while the fourth was apprehended with the help of the canine unit. A fifth male, who had remained in the vehicle, was taken to hospital with a leg injury.

Police later learned the truck the males had been driving in before the robbery was stolen. The five males, ages 12 to 19, are now facing charges.

The attack had Edmonton’s taxi driver union worried about a violent month.

This month is very scary for cab drivers,” said Balraj Manhas, president of the United Cabbies Association of Edmonton.

Incidents of violence always peak at this time of year, Manhas said, adding people are sometimes driven to crime due to lack of money during the holiday season.

A cab driver was attacked and robbed in west Edmonton Dec. 1.

Lucas Edgar Reynolds, 27, was charged with robbery two days later.

richard.liebrecht@sunmedia.ca