The vehicle had only recently been equipped with a Thatcham Category 5 satellite tracking device from Masternaut Three X.
Using live tracking on the web, Mick Monaghan of the council’s highway operations team helped to direct Nottinghamshire Police Force’s helicopter and South Yorkshire patrol vehicles to intercept the stolen fleet vehicle.
The vehicle was recovered undamaged, saving the council the cost of replacing it.
Monaghan, the council’s projects manager, Highway Operations, Communities, said:
“This is a great result for our new Masternaut system. The vehicle was stolen from the council’s Misterton depot at noon on the 9th of November.
“The works manager immediately notified the police and Highway Operations HQ and I was able to use the system to help direct the police helicopter and patrol cars to quickly recover the vehicle.
“During the pursuit of the vehicle, I spoke to Masternaut Three X’s operations team and the support staff were able to increase the tracking frequency, enabling the police to recover the vehicle in half an hour.”
Thatcham Category 5 is the highest level of police response in the case of vehicle theft.
Masternaut Three X is the first commercial vehicle telematics supplier to secure Category 5 for a full range of fleet vehicles including vans, HGVs and plant.
The system has led to the retrieval of hundreds of stolen vehicles.
