Technology assists the long arm of the law

The police and Datatrak Systems Ltd, a company which offers a tracking service for vehicles and other assets, joined forces early yesterday morning to locate a cigarette vending machine that had been stolen from a club in Hamrun only an hour earlier.

George Mercieca, Datatrak's technical manager, said the company had a security agreement with Central Cigarettes. It was immediately alerted to the theft of the machine and used its tracking technology to "follow" it as it was being transported through the streets of Hamrun, until it ended up in a garage.

The mobile police were kept informed and they raided the garage, finding other stolen goods besides the machine, Mr Mercieca said. He praised the police for their prompt response and efficiency.