Police say man took cab to shoplift at Saugus store, then carjacked the cab

Saugus Police are looking for a man who did a little shoplifting at the Dick's Sporting Goods in the Square One Mall last night, then exited and punched out the window of the cab that brought him there in a successful attempt to drive away in it.

Police say a cabbie picked the guy up in Lynn shortly before 6:45 p.m., then drove him to the Dick's , where he waited for him to return.

The suspect went into the store and emerged about five minutes later carrying three expensive jackets, valued at a total of $879. The taxi driver, saw that his fare was being chased by another man, and the driver attempted to flee the area. However, as he attempted to back out of a parking space, the suspect smashed through the driver's side window and attempted to jump through the window, onto the driver's lap.

The suspect managed to open the driver's door using the interior door handle. Once the door opened, the suspect pulled the victim out of the cab, and the suspect drove away toward Essex Street in Saugus.

Police describe the guy as white, in his mid to late 30s with graying brown hair and chin hair. He wore a black jacket and a gray hat, and will have a good gash on his hand from breaking the window.

The cab, which had yet to be recovered as of 9:30 this morning, is a gray, 2008 Fusion with a Mass. taxi plate of 412C.

If you know anything, or spot the cab, call Saugus Police at 781-941-1199.

The cab driver declined medical attention, police say.