Satrak Vehicle Tracking Satellite tracking has allowed the police to locate a stolen roller on board a ship just as it was about to sail. The Terex roller was fitted with a Satrak system that allowed owners Mechplant to see it travelling to Newcastle Docks.

Bill Kilner, Mechplant's managing director, alerted the police, who swooped as the Rotterdam-bound ferry was set to sail.

The system allowed the police to identify which of the three ferries was carrying the equipment. A low loader, carrying the roller and eight other plant items, was taken off the ship. The Dutch driver, who had instructions to deliver the machines to Poland, was arrested.

"Even if the ferry had sailed, we would have been able to keep track of the machine across Europe on street level maps," said Satrak Vehicle Tracking's Alex Ryan.