Home Australia Moment cool-headed 999 operator sends police to help a domestic abuse victim after she pretended to call for a pizza delivery while being threatened

Moment cool-headed 999 operator sends police to help a domestic abuse victim after she pretended to call for a pizza delivery while being threatened

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Pippa Harvey was praised by the Metropolitan Police after her quick thinking helped a woman who had called asking for a 'pizza'.

A quick call handler has been praised after a woman who feared for her safety was able to contact officers after dialing 999 “to order a pizza”.

At the beginning of the call, the woman asks to order a pizza, but Pippa Harvey’s intuition tells her something is wrong.

After the caller started talking about pizza, Ms. Harvey quickly asked, “Do you need pizza delivery or do you need the police?” If it’s the police, say yes.

When the frightened woman on the phone said “yes,” confirming she needed the police, the operator dispatched officers as she attempted to continue the action.

Ms. Harvey asked a series of yes or no questions to help decipher what was happening on the other end of the phone, including whether the perpetrator or weapons were present on the property.

Continuing the ruse, the caretaker asked: If he threatened to hurt you, tell me pepperoni. If he threatened to hurt the kids, tell me cheese.

To which the distressed caller responded: ‘Pepperoni’, while children crying could be heard in the background.

Assuring her that the calling police were on their way to her house, Ms. Harvey told the woman that she would have to hang up so that the man would not become suspicious of her phone call.

Pippa Harvey was praised by the Metropolitan Police after her quick thinking helped a woman who had called asking for a ‘pizza’.

Quickly assessing that something was wrong despite the food order, the quick call handler was quick to ask the woman if she was under duress or in danger.

Quickly assessing that something was wrong despite the food order, the quick call handler was quick to ask the woman if she was under duress or in danger.

‘If you need to call 999 again, stay in a separate room for the moment, okay? “The police will be with you very soon,” he added.

How to make a silent call to 999

Not everyone who asks for help can do it out loud. The Metropolitan Police has issued advice on how to make a silent 999 call, with different methods depending on whether you are calling from a mobile or landline.

If you are in danger call 999 and try to talk to the operator if you can, even if it is in a whisper. You may also be asked to cough or tap keys on your phone to answer questions.

from a mobile

If you do not speak or answer questions, press 55 or touch when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police.

The police will usually be able to find your location.

If you do not press 55 or answer, your call may end.

From a landline

If you do not speak or answer questions and the operator can only hear background noise, they will transfer your call to the police.

If you hang up the phone, the landline can stay connected for 45 seconds if you pick it up again.

Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location.

“(She) recognized the disguise and used her initiative to ensure the woman received the help she needed,” the Metropolitan Police said.

Ms. Harvey’s honorable work did not go unnoticed and she later received a commendation.

Harvey had only started working a few months before guiding the woman through the phone call, according to the Metropolitan Police.

She has since been praised by the women’s charity, who said: “Fantastic work by this call handler, Pippa Harvey.”

‘We hope this woman and her children are now safe.

It comes after another call operator was praised for a similar approach when a woman from York called 999 asking for a pizza.

The woman, who was traveling on a bus in the York area at the time, contacted emergency services to order takeaway food before covertly answering yes or no questions from the North Yorkshire Police manager in 2022. .

Instead of hanging up or considering it a prank call, the manager immediately asked the woman to clarify if she was in trouble, to which she responded yes.

His position was subsequently geolocated using tracking data, and a 40-year-old man from Leeds was arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody.

Elsewhere, an illegal migrant was allegedly caught sexually assaulting a woman in a Florida field and was arrested after the victim alerted police using the same tactic.

‘I would like to order a pizza. “I’m so trapped here,” the victim told operators in the heartbreaking emergency call obtained by DailyMail.com.

‘Well. Do you know you’re calling 911?’ the dispatcher responded to which the woman quickly responded, ‘Yes, I’m sure I’m calling that number. Trying to get a pizza.

“Please say you have my location,” the woman desperately pleaded after the operator asked her for her emergency address. And she added: ‘I’m trapped here. It won’t take me back home.

The Metropolitan Police have since praised Ms Harvey for the call she received just months after taking charge.

The Metropolitan Police have since praised Ms Harvey for the call she received just months after taking charge.

The women's charity has also praised its quick action to help the woman on the phone.

The women’s charity has also praised its quick action to help the woman on the phone.

It's not the first time call handlers have been praised for their quick thinking after being greeted with calls that sound like pizza orders (file image)

It’s not the first time call handlers have been praised for their quick thinking after being greeted with calls that sound like pizza orders (file image)

West Yorkshire Police revealed in 2022 that a woman traveling on a bus in York contacted emergency services to order a pizza after an incident occurred on board.

West Yorkshire Police revealed in 2022 that a woman traveling on a bus in York contacted emergency services to order a pizza after an incident occurred on board.

Volusia County sheriff’s deputies used his phone’s location services to track his location to the middle of a field in Pierson, a rural town located north of Orlando.

When officers arrived at the scene they found Luis Diego Hernández-Moncay, 27, on top of a screaming woman. The suspect, who had requested asylum just a day before the attack, was arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault.

The woman called 911 around 4 a.m. on Oct. 19 after Hernandez-Moncay allegedly took her to the field.

As authorities tracked her location, the victim was able to confirm that she was alone with the suspect and that he was unarmed.

‘Do you know his name?’ the dispatcher asked, but she refused to give it to him.

The dispatcher then asked her name and the woman responded, “I would like to order extra cheese pizza.”

‘Are you hurt?’ The 911 operator then asked. The victim, as if on the verge of tears, responded, “Yes.”

‘Stay on the line with me, okay? “I’m going to get you help,” the dispatcher said.

Officers were dispatched to Pierson and searched the area on foot when they heard loud music coming from a field.

Luis Diego Hernandez-Moncay, 27, (pictured) was arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault, assault by strangulation, and false imprisonment in October 2024.

Luis Diego Hernandez-Moncay, 27, (pictured) was arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault, assault by strangulation and false imprisonment in October 2024.

The victim reportedly knew Hernandez-Moncay before the attack, but told police he turned on her after using a line of cocaine, according to the sheriff. He is pictured after officers grabbed him, threw him to the ground and arrested him.

The victim reportedly knew Hernandez-Moncay before the attack, but told police he turned on her after using a line of cocaine, according to the sheriff. He is pictured after officers grabbed him, threw him to the ground and arrested him.

The woman shouted 'Thank you, Lord!' as officers took Hernández-Moncay away

The woman shouted ‘Thank you, Lord!’ as officers took Hernández-Moncay away

As they approached, they saw Hernandez-Moncay on top of the screaming victim.

‘He’s trying to rape me. Can you help me?’ the woman shouted, body camera video released by police shows.

The officers ordered Hernandez-Moncay to “get off now” before grabbing him, tackling him to the ground, handcuffing him and telling him, “Don’t move, dammit.”

The woman shouted ‘Thank you, Lord!’ as officers rushed to help

The victim reportedly knew Hernandez-Moncay before the attack, but told police he turned on her after using a line of cocaine, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

Full transcript of the phone call.

Operator: Hello police, what’s your emergency?

Woman: Pizza delivery man.

Operator: Pizza delivery? Well, do you need pizza delivery or the police? If it’s the police, say yes.

Woman: Yes.

Operator: OK, is the person who is scaring you now on the property?

Woman: Yes.

Operator: No problem, the police are coming, okay? Do they have weapons? Answer yes or no.

Woman: No.

Operator: If he threatened to hurt you, tell me pepperoni. If he threatened to hurt the kids, tell me cheese.

Woman: pepperoni.

Operator: OK, the police will be with you very, very soon, okay? Alright, if you need to call 999 back, stay in a separate room from him for the moment. But if I keep talking on the phone any longer, it will look suspicious for you to call to order a pizza, okay?

Woman: Okay.

Operator: OK, the police will be with you very soon.

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