Absolute Software's security and tracking software has been credited with helping an Essex primary school recover several laptops stolen during a break in at the site.
Millfields School had suffered two break-ins, resulting in a number of laptops being stolen that were never recovered.
Following the second burglary, Absolute Software approached the school's head teacher, Janet Meacock, to offer some assistance.
The company installed its tracking software onto the replacement laptops and, when a third theft took place nine months later, Absolute's software managed to track down the devices, which were then recovered by Essex Police.
Derek Skinner, regional recoveries director at Absolute Software, told IT Pro: "The tracking agent within the device is fairly benign most of the time, but when the device becomes stolen, we can activate it, which means it will call every 15 minutes over the internet."
The company can deploy forensic tools to trace the device and use its team of former police officers to compile evidence for post-theft prosecutions.
Skinner said, as victims of burglary are likely to be targeted again, Absolute decided to offer its help to the school.
Moreover, as an Association of Chief Police Officers accredited company, it is obliged to proactively prove its tools in the field.
"It became obvious [the school was] going to be targeted again, so we used it as an opportunity to really prove our work again and...this was an opportunity to do that," Skinner added.
Speaking to IT Pro, Millfields' Meacock said discussions are now going on between Absolute and a number of other schools in the area.
"I would recommend every school to have at least some protection like this on their laptops because they are so vulnerable," she said.
"We want people out there to know our laptops are protected by this software and ... if they do steal from us there are consequences."
