the twilight hours.

The warning comes from the president of the taxi union and Police, after two drivers and another man bravely detained a man suspected of smashing a cab window.

The two drivers and a passenger teamed up to make a citizen's arrest on the 28-year-old from Southampton, who allegedly smashed his fist through a taxi window on Front Street.

He ran off up Burnaby Hill during the bizarre incident just before 4 a.m.

yesterday.

But he was chased by a Good Samaritan member of the public.

And when the suspect jumped into another taxi on Reid Street, the man chasing him dived in as well. The second driver immediately steered towards Hamilton Police Station.

But the suspected vandal tried to throw himself out of the cab window -- only to be hauled back inside by the passenger.

Then the original cabbie, whose window had been smashed in, had caught up with the chaos.

And all three men held the suspect until Police arrived minutes later.

Officers arrested him and held him overnight in cells. A Police spokeswoman said last night that the inquiry was continuing, but praised the trio who held the alleged culprit.

She added: "We commend their vigilance but we would still urge caution in such incidents.

"If the person had been armed it could have turned out much nastier than it was.

"In this case, we applaud the public's perseverance in chasing after the suspect and holding him until Police could arrive.'' Neville Darrell, President of the taxi wing of the Bermuda Industrial Union, said: "This is the first I have heard of the incident.

"Crime against our drivers has not been a major problem lately but we always urge caution.

"During attacks like this, drivers simply have to exercise their own discretion. Since there were two drivers in this case, I applaud and commend their actions.

"But so much depends on the circumstances. We obviously don't want our drivers putting themselves in the front line, where they could be subject to danger.

"Some of them are trained in martial arts but we don't want any of them getting hurt. And the problems are at their worst in the small hours of the morning.

"Most have mobile phones and they've got access to the radio. But drivers must be selective late at night.

"They have to exercise extreme caution and stay vigilant. Apart from that, there's not much they can do and we do not advise them to take the law into their own hands.'' One driver was almost blinded when he was sprayed in the eyes with a pepper spray this summer.

Other cabbies have frequently called for New York-style grilles on their cabs.

But the proposals have always been rejected amid claims they are "not Bermudian''.

Mr. Darrell added: "I think the grilles would only be used as an absolute last resort.''