How a domestic abuse victim got police help pretending to order pizza

A quick-thinking call handler has been praised after a woman fearing for her safety was able to communicate with officers after dialling 999 'to order a pizza'. 

At the beginning of the call, the woman asks to order a pizza but Pippa Harvey's intuition told her something was awry. 

After the caller began discussing pizza, Ms Harvey swiftly queried: 'Do you require pizza delivery or do you require the police? If it's the police say yes.'

When the scared woman on the phone said 'yes', confirming she was in need of the police, the operator dispatched officers whilst trying keep the act going. 

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

Keeping up the ruse, the handler asked:  If he threatened to hurt you, tell me pepperoni. If he threatened to hurt the children, tell me cheese.'

To which the distressed called answered: 'Pepperoni,' while children could be heard crying in the background. 

Assuring the caller police were on the way to her home, Ms Harvey told the woman she would have to hang up so the man would not suspect their phone call. 

'If you need to call back 999, keep in a separate room for the moment alright? Police will be with you very soon,' she added. 

How to make a silent 999 call 

Not everyone calling for help can do so 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 a landline.

If you're in danger, call 999 and try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. You may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions. 

From a mobile

If you don't speak or answer questions, press 55 or tap when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police.

The police will usually be able to find your location.

If you don't press 55 or respond, your call could be ended.

From a landline

If you don't speak or answer questions and the operator can only hear background noise, they'll transfer your call to the police.

If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again.

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

'[She] recognised the disguise and used her initiative to ensure the woman received the help she needed,' the Met Police said. 

Ms Harvey's honourable work hasn't gone unnoticed, and was later handed a commendation. 

Ms Harvey had only begun the job a few months before she guided the woman via the phone call, according to the Metropolitan Police.  

She has since been praised by charity the Women's Organisation, who said: 'Fantastic work from this call handler Pippa Harvey. 

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

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

The woman, who was riding a bus in the York area at the time, contacted the emergency services to order the takeaway before covertly answering the North Yorkshire Police handler's yes or no questions in 2022.

Rather than hang up or consider it a prank call, the handler immediately asked the woman to clarify if she was in trouble, to which she replied yes.

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

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

'I would like to order a pizza. I'm so stuck in here,' the victim told dispatchers in the harrowing emergency call obtained by DailyMail.com

'Okay. Are you aware you're calling 911?,' the dispatcher replied to which the woman quickly responded: 'Yes, I'm sure I'm calling to that number. Trying to get a pizza.'

'Say you've got my location please,' the woman desperately pleaded after the dispatcher asked for the address of her emergency. She added: 'I'm stuck in here. He won't take me back home.'

Volusia County Sheriff's deputies used the location services in her phone to track her 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 Hernandez-Moncay, 27, on top of a screaming woman. The suspect, who had applied for asylum just one day before the attack, was arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault.

The woman called 911 around 4am on October 19 after Hernandez-Moncay allegedly took her to the field.

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

'Do you know his name?' the dispatcher asked, but she declined to give it.

The dispatcher then asked for her name and the woman replied: 'I would like to order extra cheese pizza.'

'Are you hurt?' the 911 operator then asked. The victim, sounding as if she was on the brink of tears, answered: 'Yes.'

'Stay on the line with me, okay? I'm going to get help out there to you,' the dispatcher said.

Deputies were dispatched to Pierson and searching the area by foot when they heard loud music coming from a field. 

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 yelled, bodycamera video released by police showed.

Officers ordered Hernandez-Moncay to 'get off her now' before they grabbed him, tackled him to the ground, placed him in handcuffs and said 'Don't you, f*****g move.'

The woman cried out 'Thank you, Lord!' as deputies rushed to help

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