Thieves\u2019 violent attempt to hijack a security-equipment company\u2019s van has been foiled by Quartix vehicle tracking.<\/p>\n
Driver Roger Hirsch was in slow-moving traffic in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, when he a felt a sudden bump from behind. Leaping from his cab, he was shoved roughly to the ground by one thief while a second slipped behind the wheel and sped off.<\/p>\n
Shocked but otherwise unhurt, Hirsch quickly called his boss at Delta Security, urging him to check the company\u2019s vehicle tracking system.<\/p>\n
Dave Mundy, the London firm\u2019s operations manager, said: \u201cI ran to my laptop, logged on to our Quartix vehicle tracking system and entered the registration number of Roger\u2019s van. A few seconds later I could see a map with the van clearly marked and showing it was travelling along the North Circular from Walthamstow towards Edmonton.<\/p>\n
\u201cI dialled 999 on the landline and asked for the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mundy explained the situation to them and said he was tracking the Ford Transit online and could explain exactly where the vehicle was.<\/p>\n
Mundy was able to tell them when the van left the North Circular and entered High Road, Tottenham and the precise time it turned into a yard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Quartix tracking system showed the van to be stationery with the ignition off. The time was 9.59pm. At 10.01 the first police car arrived on the scene with a second car arriving a minute later,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The police told him the vehicle was found locked, unoccupied and undamaged, although the hijackers \u2013 including, possibly, a third man who had earlier driven the thieves\u2019 get-away car \u2013 appeared to have fled after hearing the police cars\u2019 sirens.<\/p>\n
Now, following forensic analysis, the van is back with Delta Security: and the only thing missing \u2013 Roger Hirsch\u2019s personal phone.<\/p>\n
Mundy added: \u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for the Quartix vehicle tracking system and the quick actions of the police I\u2019ve no doubt the story would have ended quite differently, with a stripped-out van being torched in an alley.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs it is, after replacing the van\u2019s locks Roger is providing a normal service. Quartix is a great vehicle tracking system and assists with efficiency, fuel consumption, congestion charges and vehicle recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delta Security, which is celebrating 50 years in business this year, has equipped its entire service fleet of 14 vehicles, including Transits, VW Transporters and Toyota Hiaces, with Quartix vehicle tracking.<\/p>\n