More successes for Smoke Screen

Bradford, the very early hours of the morning on 6th July, thieves reversed a stolen flat-bed truck into a cash and carry wholesalers demolishing a large section of a brick side wall. Metal security bollards in the car park had been disabled prior to the attack and the bed of the truck simply sailed over the post nearest the wall before ploughing through it.

Large quantities of alcohol and cigarettes were exposed, but instead of clearing up, the raiders cleared off, drastically limiting loss to the store.

The store is not on police response and despite the site being attended by a fire crew, the raiders were already long gone.

The warehouse is protected by a Smoke Screen system. When the raiders entered, it activated and the building quickly filled with dense security smoke. Their quarry quickly disappearing from view and time rapidly running out, they grabbed what they could from around the periphery of the hole in the wall before fleeing.

Wigan, 20th January, four men in balaclavas, wielding hammers and crowbars, raided a prestige jewellery store in the market place in broad daylight. They ran out again after just 15 seconds. Here's what happened:

CCTV cameras in the town centre had caught the robbers making their way to the store. Once inside three of them began smashing the display cabinets while a fourth remained on guard, barking orders to the staff on the front of store to get down.

Laura Hesketh was shielded on the floor by fellow co-worker Len, 'I was petrified, shaking from head to toe.'

The toughened glass on the counters frustrated the raiders and bought enough time for the two other members of staff in the rear of the store to activate the panic alarm, setting off the Smoke Screen system. For all their ruthless determination, this was one thing they had not expected. The Smoke Screen instantly stopped the crime, routing the raiders who fled empty-handed. No-one was harmed during the attack.

Store manager Mat Diable recalled the moment his colleague, Jo, reached for her key fob, 'as soon as you press that alarm, the alarms go off, the smoke comes up, and at that point the lads in the shop just legged it.'

Outside, the town's CCTV picked up the trail again, following the escape on foot through the town centre to their getaway vehicle.

Here is the actual CCTV footage from inside and outside the store.

This particular crime was the focus of a recent BBC Crimewatch Roadshow feature. The show featured a reconstruction, CCTV footage, a live Smoke Screen demo and an appeal for help in capturing the criminals.

Our long history of stopping crimes continues to be steeped in success.