In this week’s hot new trend in bad consumers, two suspected robbers living in different states both made the decision to involve a taxi in their alleged nefarious deeds. Which isn’t a smart move for them, as calling in a law-abiding third-party is basically like calling the cops on yourself.

The first case involves a woman who police say left her one-year-old with a friend in a cab while she hopped out real quick to allegedly rob a Wawa gas station at gunpoint on Tuesday, reports DelawareOnline.com.

The 29-year-old was arrested after police tracked down the cab and its driver — who had no idea that the stop at the Wawa was an armed robbery. The driver then handed over the address where she was dropped off after the early morning incident.

The employee held up at gunpoint during the encounter handed over cash and then later described the getaway cab to the police.

The suspect was charged with first-degree robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, cocaine possession and drug paraphernalia possession after police arrived at her home and found an undisclosed amount of coke and other drug paraphernalia.

In the second case of cabbing to and from a robbery target, police in Columbia, S.C. say a man suspected of robbing a bank on Wednesday then went to a fast-food restaurant nearby and demanded that workers call a cab for him, reports WLTX.com.

Those workers handed that information over to cops, who were able to track down the taxi in downtown Columbia and arrest the man. He’s been charged with entering a bank with intent to steal.

Perhaps using a bike as a getaway vehicle would be a better idea, because at least the bike can’t call the cops. Or hey, not robbing in the first place is also a fantastic idea.

Woman leaves baby in taxi while robbing Wawa, police say [DelawareOnline.com]
Police: Bank Robber Called Taxi to Get Away [WLTX.com]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.