Springfield Police are looking for three suspects who stabbed a cab driver on an Indian Orchard street early Friday morning.

Veteran cab drivers like Gussie Scott and Kenneth White know the dangers they face every time they get behind the wheel.

"I've had people curse me out, call me every name in the book, for a ride that's two or three dollars," says Scott.

"They figure we are an easy target," says White.

Just after 2 a.m. a 54 year old City Cab driver from West Springfield was stabbed three times after his customers asked him to stop the cab on Pinevale Street in Indian Orchard. The driver says he was driving two men and a woman when they got out of the cab and one of the men stabbed him through his open driver's side window.

"You put your window down, and try to get money there, that's dangerous for you," says White.

The suspects fled on foot after stealing 20 dollars from the driver, who then drove several blocks before pulling over on Oak Street. Witnesses who saw the fight followed him down the road and called police. Incidents like this are why many cab drivers say they are hesitant to pick-up of passengers who flag them down.

"Some people flag you down in the streets and you'd like to pick them up, but you don't know what kind of guys they are," says Scott. "So you have to back down from picking them up."

Scott also keeps all doors and windows locked, including the slide shield on the cab's plastic divider. And White recommends asking for fares upfront, and only driving into neighborhoods you are familiar with. But White says even with precautions, driver's can never be sure they won't become a victim.

"You wake up in the morning and you say a prayer," says White. "You pray to God."

The driver involved underwent surgery on his shoulder and is now in good condition in the hospital.