Unger Interviews Mark Munro

Mark Munro (right) receives the 50 year Unger squeegee from Matt Hodgkins, sales & marketing Unger.

The WCP Cleaning Tradeshow: Today clean Magazine is talking to Mark Munro, the proprietor of the Munro Exterior Cleaning Services in Dorset with over 30 years of experience in the industry, and the driving force behind the UK’s unique event for professional window cleaners – The WCP Cleaning Tradeshow.

Please tell us about the WCP Cleaning Tradeshow – what has prompted you to organise this event, what challenges you faced and how has it changed since the beginning?

The WCP cleaning trade show was set up in 2014.  I wanted to bring different elements of the industry to the UK South West as a show.  This proved to be successful and as a result our third show will be in a bigger venue and located more centrally to enable more customers to attend from all over the UK.  The main challenge initially was finding the right contacts within the industry and persuading them to attend the show.  Fortunately the first show was well attended and now after the second show suppliers know what to expect and are supporting our third show in September.

What can visitors expect to see at the show this year?

Our 2016 show is twice the size of that in 2015 and, having spoken to suppliers, lots of new products will be available to view and discuss.

Professional window cleaners take a lot of pride in their skill – have you planned any competitions for them?

Watch this space.

It must have been a huge learning curve for you to organise a tradeshow – what were your personal highlights and most memorable moments?

My personal highlights of organising the shows is hearing the positive comments from suppliers and customers who have enjoyed visiting the show, meeting people within the industry and gaining new friends.

How can professional window cleaners worldwide stay informed about your event in the future?

To stay informed in the future customers can follow the busiest Facebook window cleaning pages in the world (The Window Cleaning Page, Window Cleaning Page UK and Worldwide Window Cleaning Page) as well as Twitter, Forums and, of course, the show website. Suppliers are also kindly advertising the show on their own websites.

With your wealth of experience in the industry, do you have any advice for the new starters in professional window cleaning?

I would advise anyone starting to try and find someone locally to work with for a day to see what equipment you will need, which poles and squeegees suit you best or try and come to the show and speak with fellow window cleaners.

Unger UK on the WCP Cleaning Show

We have enjoyed being part of this fantastic event since its very beginning in 2014. Known back then as the Van Festival, the show created an exclusive opportunity for professional window cleaners and their families from all over the country to get together for a great day out, with friendly atmosphere, good deals from all major brands and plenty to see and do.

Thanks to Mark’s passion and hard work, the WCP Cleaning Show has become a real highlight of the year for the industry – we wish Mark and his supports the best of luck for the 2016 event!

Our team are already preparing for the day with special offers planned on the best-selling Unger products, lots of free product samples and a prize draw for the Stingray Kit worth over £230 – with its no mess and no drips design, it’s perfect for conservatory roofs, Velux windows and skylights up to 4 m (13 ft) high.

Of course, we will also be showing our award–winning HydroPower DI Filters and the nLite Water Fed Pole system, including the new nLite One range of compact poles, ideally suited for transportation in smaller vehicle and great for ground level work too!

So, make sure to come and see us on the day and if you can, come early – we have a special giveaway planned for the first 100 visitors!

The WCP Cleaning Tradeshow

10 September 2016

Billing Aquadrome

Crow Lane, Great Billing, NN3 9DA Northampton, Northamptonshire

Also see:

Window Cleaning Has A New Star

Call Out For Window Cleaning Equipment Suppliers

Call Out For Window Cleaning Equipment Suppliers - Act Now!

Window Cleaning Page Trade Show 2016 - September 2016 will see the return of the Window Cleaning Page Trade show, this time at a new venue in Northampton. Fed up with visiting advertised window cleaning trade shows & only 5% of the stalls have anything to do with window cleaning? This is the show for you! Mark (Munro) it in your calendar - 10th September! 

The show, which has been held in Dorset for several years, aims to bring together window cleaners and window cleaning companies from across the UK, with many of the sectors biggest names, including Unger, Ionic Systems, GrippaTank and Spin-a-Clean already signed up to attend. And event organiser Mark Munro is hopeful that this year’s show will be the best yet. He said: “Last year’s show was the biggest so far, but 2016 is already shaping up to be bigger with four months left to generate further trade.”

See some videos of the previous show here.

The new venue, Billing Aquadrome, sees the show move from its former home in Dorset to Northampton, but Mark feels that this decision was crucial to the continued growth of the event. He explained: “I had to move the show to the Midlands as I believed that we had outgrown Dorset, and that a more central local will hopefully appeal to more attendees. “We needed a venue more suited to a much larger audience, yet still keeping the family-oriented appeal and we feel that Billing Aquadrome is that place.”

Mark added that he hopes the show will continue to boast the family-friendly atmosphere, and believes that the Aquadrome, which includes a funfair and marina on the Nene River, is the best place to maintain this.

“This year’s show will not only be for the window cleaners but also for the whole family. There will be family entertainment and the show is located within a huge family park, so there’s plenty for the family to do while you play with the grown up toys at the tradeshow area,” he said.

Time is the essence, to get in on the pre-show advertising & to save your space, suppliers are urged to contact Mark now at prices that are a snip compared to other trade shows. Get earthy with real window cleaners, ask what they really want & show off & sell your products. The Window Cleaning Page Trade Show will take place on 10th September. For more information, email Mark Munro at markmunro009@btinternet.com, or call 07766 557461.

Vandals Target Window Cleaner

A window cleaner has fallen victim to vandals for the second time in four and a half months.

Chatteris couple face second vandalism ordeal in less than five months as van windows are smashed: Window cleaner Jamie Parr and his partner Rachel woke up on Sunday at their West Park Street home to discover the windows of their van had been smashed.

If anyone has information call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0888 555 111.

In November, vandals smashed the windows of their van and car, and the front window of their home. The most recent attack has been captured on CCTV. Police are analysing the footage. Mrs Parr said: “There was an incident in November where the windows in the van and the front window got smashed. It happened again on Saturday night. “It happened at 11.15pm. Me and my partner were up but we didn’t hear it. We heard the dog barking but we thought it was just being protective. “When we woke up and let the dog out, we saw the window had been smashed again of the van.”

Jamie Parr who has had his van vandalised for the second time.

Chatteris man counting the cost of vandalism attack: A Chatteris man is counting the cost after vandals have attacked his van for the second time. Angry window cleaner Jamie Parr was horrified to discover windows on his van had been smashed outside his home in West Park Street on April 4.

In November his car, a Rover MGZR, had to be written off after all of the windows were smashed. Father of three, Mr Parr was expecting to lose money while the van was fixed but has CCTV footage of the attack on the vehicle. He said: “This is not nice for the kids. It just scares them. “It is frightening to watch this happen on CCTV. You see him walking with something shoved up his sleeve.”

Wagtail At The Dorset Window Cleaning Show

Willie Erken, Director of Wagtail Pivotal Tools shows off his game changer at the WCP window cleaning show.

Wagtail at the Dorset Window Cleaning Show: Wagtail pivotal tools were a huge draw at the WCP window cleaning trade & van show organised by Mark Munro in Bradstock Burton in Dorset. Willie Erken showed how his new waterfed pole pivoting brush & waterfed pole swivelling pad aid in cleaning windows & also his new pole that extends from the bottom instead of the top. Some more lightweight poles are shown as well as his compound angle that mimics the wrist & his older angle adapter that could also fit at the other end of the pole for a double whammy action.

On the day, Wagtail drew quite an audience with the window cleaning public, many of who had only heard of Wagtail but not seen the tools in action. Willie came all the way from Australia to feature not only his popular range of squeegees but also many adaptations which are able to wet the window as well as clean at the same time (one-pass), but also his popular range of flippers. The videos below are best seen on youtube for full HD quality. Lee Burbidge from Window Cleaning Magazine UK were also there to take in the event & we await with baited breath the high quality film once it's edited.

The "Pied Wagtail" was also seen flying around the event, a local migrating bird that 'just' happened to be there at the same time as his namesake from Australia. Willie even brought his own brand of wine to the event to celebrate the occasion (seen above)... which kept the riff-raff away!

The show was a credit to Mark Munro who put on an amazing show out of his own pocket. Many big names showed up for the event, photos to come! Even Willies brother - Peter, of Window Cleaning World, made it over to network with other window cleaners on the day.

Some attendees were lucky to pick up the night action squeegee.

Window Cleaning Has A New Star

Mark Munro (right) receives the 50 year Unger squeegee from Matt Hodgkins, sales & marketing Unger.

Window Cleaning has a new star in the shape of Mark Munro (pictured) who managed to pull industry leaders from the four corners of the globe. All converging to arrive in a little known caravan park in Burton Bradstock, Dorset. Mark, who has two very popular facebook pages (here & here) for window cleaners created something out of nothing, which all started when he was looking for a a supplier to come down to give a demo' so he could try out a pole. Figures coming in, showed that he out classed other popular window conventions in numbers alone & also managed to raise quite a big cheque for local charity. A big thank you to Mark for putting on a great show, with a lot of money coming out of his own pocket - he's a champion geezer! 

See the pre-blog, click the picture.

Eat Your Heart Out ISSA - Here's A Real Window Cleaners Show

Window Cleaning Tradeshpw & Van festival - 17th May, Burton Bradstock Bridport Dorset.

The Dorset Window Cleaning Show & Window Cleaning Van Festival is taking place on the 17th May. Gates Open 10.00 am till 17.00pm Tickets £2.00 (Kids Free). All profits to entry fee go to local Charity. Competitions & Demonstrations + Food and drink available at the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4PT. It will be a day to remember, as UK window cleaners & some from further a field, gather to celebrate all things window cleaning. It is expected that many more suppliers & window cleaning companies will show on the day - more news to come.

Wagtail take the lead with a thorough program.

Willie Erken (all the way from Australia) of Wagtail Cleaning Tools, manufacturers of multi award winning cleaning tools. See the Wagtail line of new waterfed tools at the show! Established by a professional window cleaner Willie Erken with 20 years of experience in abseiling, shopfront and residential work. After all employees developed muscle problems due to the constant arm movement, he developed his own brand of unique tools. Faster, easier window cleaning & 30% faster. Faster accurate cleaning with an ergonomic design to reduce arm & shoulder strain. Invented, designed and manufactured in Australia and exported throughout the world. The new Wagtail Pivot Control (PC) delivers faster, more accurate and a controlled pivoting action. As Wagtail is my go-to tool of choice you'll also find me there if you have any questions!

The Window Cleaning Warehouse is the one stop shop for all professional window cleaners. They have the UK’s largest selection of traditional and pure water window cleaning equipment bar none. From scrim to rope access you will find it all here under one roof and at the lowest prices in the UK. Established in March 2004 they have gone from strength to strength and now supply over 17,000 window cleaning companies across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world with professional window cleaning tools. Located in Barry, near Cardiff in South Wales you can take a visit to their warehouse to see the biggest choice of window cleaning equipment in the UK. Personal demonstrations are also given at a place convenient to you!

Unger are planning to attend the WCP Tradeshow / Van Festival in Dorset on 17th May. If so, make sure to go along and see Matt and Bal at the Unger stand! They will be giving away 50th Anniversary Limited Edition ErgoTec® Sets, as well as other freebies, to celebrate the company’s 50th Anniversary this year. Always a firm favorite with window cleaners around the World, check out Ungers stand & see demonstrations at the waterfed tower.

Peter Erken of Window Cleaning World in Australia will be at the Wagtail stand to give you advise & tips from waterfed poles to traditional equipment. To stay ahead of your competition you need to have the latest and most innovative tools in the industry. Wagtail Cleaning Tools are the fastest, most versatile window cleaning tools in world. At WCW you will find the best advice and prices for the entire Wagtail range.

Peter Fogwill with the AquaTap: you are only pumping water when the brush is on the glass. When your brush is off your pump stops, and you have all the time you need to adjust your pole, move obstacles, or talk to customers, without worrying about wasting you precious water. How much is it costing you per day not to have one? How many times in the year could you have done another couple of window cleaning jobs in the day, if you had never run out of water? Water fed pole Window cleaning with the AquaTap you are guaranteed to save at least 10% water over the day. An average window cleaner with a 400L tank, and working 240 days per year, and earning £20.00 per hour will be loosing approx £3840.00 per year, now seriously can you afford NOT to buy one? The AquaTap will cost you £30 and will last you at least a year, so it will be a total saving of £3771.00 per year.

Tip Top Cleaning Supplies - "Everything we sell has been road tested by our own staff at our sister company, Steve Dingle Cleaning Ltd, and has passed our very high standards." "As we opened in August 2013, we are relatively new & are still gaining experience in this field, and are open to all suggestions about stock, cleaning lines and what you as consumers would like.""If we don't have it, I will get it for you- if you don't like a range- we will stop running it - we run a line of second hand equipment in store and are happy to sell working, HS compliant equipment on your behalf." "With over 30 years within the Commercial cleaning trade, we are not just shop keepers but also hands on cleaning staff- we are here for you." Mandie Dingle.

Blade Right Cleaning Supplies now build their own Pole Wash systems to the specification you require. Building hard and soft water systems ranging from 250 litres to 1000 litres with a range of high quality extras like poles and hoses. A window cleaning store for all traditional window cleaning gear, waterfed equipment & industrial janitorial equipment.

X-Line Systems: Window cleaning equipment manufacturer & supplier. Whether you’re a traditional window cleaner looking to take the next step in your career or looking to ease up the workload with age or even looking to change career completely and delve into the window cleaning industry for the first time, X-Line are able to offer complete system packages for every customers requirements. All of X-Line Systems are custom made and individually designed to suit your business needs and workload. X-Line Systems offer the operator full training with every system that is installed, on the installation day & you are given the opportunity to accompany one of X-Line Systems City and Guilds qualified staff on his daily business within X-Line Systems own window cleaning business, where you will be able to learn more about how the system works and the different cleaning techniques used with a water fed pole. 

Facelifts Mini Mike Howard will be turning up with Van Mount systems, the full range of Phoenix poles & trolleys & also demonstrations to boot. Ask Mike anything about waterfed poles & his considerable amount of experience in this area. Facelift poles are gaining traction in the waterfed pole market & will no doubt blow you away with the new OKGO van system for window cleaners.

GrippaTank will be showing their low cost crash tested products to window cleaners who want security of transporting liquids with the safety that is needed. Everything from trolleys, to welded frames to quick release systems & of course tanks.

The Streamline® brand has gained a reputation for having a wide variety of products from 'turn-key' packages for the professional contract cleaner to starter kits for the domestic window cleaner. Products are sourced from leading manufacturers worldwide and brought together under the Streamline® name which has become recognised as a trusted and reliable brand. As in any market, price is important, but the Streamline® equipment is not only competitively priced, but also backed by a full technical support and spare parts availability across the range, thus providing excellent value for money every time. The Streamline® range is ever expanding and this overview includes some new and exciting products, designed to help make the cleaning task on hand safer and easier.

Aqua-dapter is an innovative water fed pole tap, developed by window cleaners, for window cleaners. Using Aqua-dapter you can switch the flow of water on or off just by pulling on the hose at the bottom of your pole. It comes with 10m of specially sourced hose that stays consistent in hot and cold weather, and won't stretch when you pull it! It is easier and faster to use than many other types of flow controllers, and eliminates many of the problems associated with triggers, holsters, remote controls, hose tail connector taps or manually kinking/folding the hose and leaving the water running while you extend or collapse your water fed pole. Aqua-dapter works with any type of window. Aquadapter also supply waterfed poles, connectors & hoses + much more.

Gutter vacuums are the ideal add-on for any cleaning/roofing business, a gutter cleaning system allows you to clean gutters faster than using ladders & it is also safer and portrays a much more professional image for your company. The gutter vacuum pole sets are light with a 20ft set weighing under 5kg. Each additional pole only weighs 600g and is only 1.2m in length so very easy to store in any vehicle. Ranges of vac's are available in 3000 watt and 3600 watt (not offering any units under 3000 watts). Gutters get clogged with leaves twigs and general dirt it all sits in there over a long period of time and becomes wet and compacted and sticks to the guttering. Anything less than a 3000 watt vacuum is a waste of time.

The Pro Gutter System has been developed to help you clean your gutters in a safer way. The extendable pole and interchangeable tools allow you to clean gutters easily. The Professional gutter cleaning equipment range has been designed to be the best yet and is moulded in a high performance plastic composite; keeping their unique design, light weight, strong and durable to give the ultimate performance. The Pro Gutter System has been designed to make cleaning gutters above conservatories, porches and hard to access areas easy. The unique gutter cleaning equipment has been designed to miss the gutter securing clips when in use.

Round Partner is the smart way to organise your window cleaning business. Using your laptop, tablet and your mobile you can access your customers, your work schedule and find out who owes you money. Round Partner has been designed to be simple, portable and save you time. Save time and money with the following features designed to help run your window cleaning business. Schedule jobs - Payment tracking - Record expenses - Nothing to install - Optimised for desktops, tablets and mobiles.

Canvassers ForWindow Cleaners. Our experienced team are fully trained in canvassing for water fed pole and traditional methods of window cleaning. Using a very simple process to acquire newly canvassed customers on your behalf, making the experience as stress free as possible for our window cleaners. Newly canvassed customers are actually filtered 4 times before they are considered a quality job and allowing overstock for any drop outs and cancellations. Whizzbizz actually care about window cleaners, and listen to what they have to say. With a positive, relaxed approach and non-pushy sales techniques all contribute to reasonable cancellation rates. Whizz-Bizz uses professional work ethics to obtain new business.

GetBookedUp helps the services industries to: Market more efficiently to your target market. Manage contacts more effectively. Quote your clients quicker. Instantly book work in for your entire team. Finding and converting new clients, and keeping existing clients, is more important than ever in the current business climate. You can have the UK’s Leading software designed specifically for the soft furnishing & floor care industry. You’ll convert more of your quotes for new customers, at a higher average job value, and ensure your existing clients never forget you, plus much more.

HydraMaster Ltd have dedicated the past 20 years to bringing the best carpet, upholstery & hard surface cleaning products, equipment, accessories and sundries to the UK. HydraMaster manufacture and supply Truck mount carpet cleaning machines that lead the industry and set new standards in both build-quality and performance and reliability. HydraMaster hot water extraction truck mount carpet cleaning machines are designed for professional domestic and commercial carpet, upholstery, curtain, rug, mattress and hard floor cleaning as well as flood removal and restoration. You won’t find better after sales service either. We have 2 service and repair centres in the UK, and are always just a phone call away to offer help and support, so whether you need parts or just an answer to a question relating to all aspects of carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaning, were always here to help. That’s because our goal isn't just to sell you the best machine money can buy, but to help you succeed in your business and offer on-going support and advice.

Alltec Network, the home of Professional Carpet Cleaning Equipment. As well as building and servicing ALLTEC Portables, Alltec Network has a comprehensive range of Carpet Cleaning Chemicals including Spotters and Protectors, Hard Floor Cleaners and Protectors & a range of speciality Rug Cleaning products. Offering a wide range of accessories including; safety equipment, spraying equipment, hard floor cleaning accessories and hoses. Also stocking the Nu-Life Stone Care range of Hard Floor Chemicals and the LTT Leather Care range.

Questions & Answers From Mark Munro, organiser of the festival:

Do you have a window cleaning business that you operate locally? 
I operate a small window cleaning round based in Burton Bradstock and covering The Bride Valley area.

So what prompted you start your own window cleaning show?
I must be mad, I wanted to buy a new WFP and wasn't too sure which one to get. I asked a few suppliers if they would come to Dorset to do a little road show. I was going to ask a few people to come along to make it worth while and it all started from there.

Why did you think it would work in Dorset of all places? 
The venue is in a beautiful area with countryside and coastal views and is part of the Jurassic coast. As the venue is set in a holiday park, this is the latest date that the roadshow could be held before the holiday season really begins.

How did you manage suppliers & equipment manufacturers to come down or even take you seriously?
My Facebook page helped a lot in respect of equipment suppliers and manufacturers. Once a few had expressed an interest I spent a lot of time on the phone (over ten months) talking to other exhibitors and fortunately now have some great ones on board. I've got great suppliers and by the sounds of it great people turning up too.

What part of the organisation of the whole caboodle has given you the most nightmares? 
Getting past the first stage of contact has probably been the most difficult. Making calls to find the right person has sometimes been difficult.

A show, a beach & live sounds – do you think it could be any better? 
If the weather is good then it could be amazing. There is a lot to do for the weekend and I wanted to make it more than just a standard walk around show.

How are you getting round the problem of raising & trying out wfp’s? 
There will be a tower for WFP's.

What’s the accommodation nearby? How are people getting there? 
There is plenty of accommodation locally as Burton Bradstock is a holiday resort. There is an alcohol, food and music licence. Hopefully Dorset is perfectly positioned for Devon, Hampshire and Somerset and is only a couple of hours away from London.

Is it true this is UFO country? Have you seen any strange lights yourself?
There are some strange sightings in Burton Bradstock, I've heard Adrian Vincent will be turning up (see below).

Dorset has some strange goings on in the Bride Valley.

Wage issue For Window Cleaner

The Beamer gets it next!

Man goes on rampage over wages issue: A former window cleaner launched a campaign of harassment against one of his bosses over two weeks' wages he claimed he was owed. Andrew Atkin, 30, of Ilkeston Road, Radford, left the company last December but claimed he was still owed cash. When no money materialised, he damaged director Phillip Pascoe's Vauxhall Vivaro van, smashing windows and the windscreen. His actions caused £5,000 damage and cost the business £1,000, because the van was out of action, Nottingham Crown Court heard yesterday.

Then Atkin began sending text messages, suggesting Mr Pascoe's BMW would be next to be damaged, and demanding money and threatening to kick his head in. He also said he would do something to co-director Mark Butcher unless he was paid.

After he was arrested in February, Atkin accepted sending "horrible" messages to both men and expressed shame. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage on January 6, and putting Mr Pascoe in fear of violence by harassment, between January 1 and January 12 this year.

Recorder Andrew Easteal gave him a community order of 12 months, with a requirement to complete a thinking skills programme, and supervision from the probation service. A restraining order was imposed for five years, to stop him contacting Mr Pascoe and Mr Butcher, or going to an address in Westwood. The judge added: "There was, over a course of time between you and them, a significant dispute over monies you believed were owed."

Window Cleaners - Two Daylight Robberies

This van, which was stopped by Easton and Phillipsburg police early Monday morning after an armed robbery in Phillipsburg was taken without the company's permission, one of George Hanisak Window Cleaning LLC's owners said this morning.

Van allegedly used in robbery, burglary was taken without permission, business owner says: A business' van that was allegedly used Monday as the getaway vehicle in an armed robbery and a burglary was taken without the company's permission, a principal in George Hanisak Window Cleaning LLC said this morning. Saying she was "very, very upset," Maria Heaton, who runs the company with her brother, James Hanisak, and sister, Nancy Lee Roth, said the company has been getting calls asking how it could allow its truck to be used in alleged criminal acts. The van was parked off-site and the company did not know it had been taken, she said.

Heaton's nephew, Cody Hanisak, of the 6000 block of Sullivan Trail in Wind Gap, was charged Tuesday along with Sarah M. Brittain, of Belvidere, in an armed robbery early Monday at a Shell gas station on Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg. The van was also believed to have been used during a burglary in Bethlehem Township, Pa., township police said Tuesday.

Cody Hanisak no longer works for the company, Heaton said, but she said police asked her not to divulge details of when his employment ended. She said she also isn't allowed to say if the van was reported stolen, but Phillipsburg police said Hanisak wasn't charged with auto theft. Heaton did say the owners didn't know it was missing until town police notified them it had been recovered. "We had no idea" the van was missing, she said. "... He went there and took it." The company was founded 65 years ago by Heaton's father, George Hanisak. He operated it until his death in December 2011, after which three of his children took it over and have been doing very well, Heaton said.

Phillipsburg police take a man into custody about 4:15 a.m. Monday during an investigation into an armed robbery at a Shell gas station about 2 a.m. on Memorial Parkway.

Phillipsburg gas station robbed, two people taken into custody:  A man and woman were taken into custody early this morning about two hours after an armed robbery at a Shell gas station  at 598 Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg, town police report. The gas station was robbed about 2 a.m. by what was originally thought to be two men but later changed to a man and a woman, due to conflicting reports, police said. One of the suspects displayed what police believe was a toy gun, according to emergency radio reports. Police could not immediately confirm that detail. Police would not say how much, if any, money was stolen.

One of the suspects was wearing a black hooded jacket, the other a red hooded jacket and they ran toward Bates Street, police said. About the same time, a white van with Hanisak Window Cleaning written on it was reported to police as driving erratically in the 300 block of Bates Street, according to emergency radio dispatches. Police confirmed the description of the van. Emergency radio broadcasts in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey provided details about the van, and an Easton patrol officer spotted it at 4:15 a.m. and followed it across the Northampton Street free bridge, town police said. Phillipsburg police aided in a traffic stop at Chintewink Alley, where the man and woman were taken into custody, according to police.

The two people were taken to Phillipsburg police headquarters, and the van was impounded. As of 7 a.m., no charges had been filed. Police would not confirm the identity of the people in custody, saying that information would be released later today. The investigation is ongoing, police said. "There is no threat to the public," police Sgt. Sandor Gal said. "It should be wrapped up today." A news release is expected mid-morning, Gal said, but it never came. Detective Sgt. Mike Swick said at that time that charges hadn't been filed and the investigation was continuing.

Authorities may be close to making an arrest in an early Monday morning burglary in Bethlehem Township, Pa., according to police. Electronic items and other valuables were taken after 3 a.m. from 4088 Freemansburg Ave., police say. A van was stopped early Monday in Phillipsburg with items inside similar to those reported stolen from the Freemansburg Avenue home. Bethlehem Township Chief Daniel Pancoast said the van in question was white and belonged to a window cleaning company. The van, matching the description, was pulled over in Phillipsburg after reports of an armed robbery at the Memorial Parkway Shell gas station. Pancoast said he was unaware of a connection between the township burglary and the New Jersey armed robbery. Phillipsburg police impounded the van, township police say, allowing for a more thorough search of the contents. Bethlehem Township police say they expect to release more information after interviews with the vans' occupants and a complete search of the van. Phillipsburg police said it was premature to comment on the Bethlehem Township burglary, citing the ongoing investigation.

Window cleaner Graham Gore-Thorne in daylight robbery.

Window cleaner tells how he chased robbers who stole £25,000 being delivered to HSBC in Ringwood, Hampshire: A window cleaner has described how he chased two robbers as they fled on a scooter after snatching cash from a security guard outside a Hampshire bank. Graham Gore-Thorne was among half a dozen have-a-go heroes who tried to stop the pair who escaped with what is thought to be around £25,000. One robber wrenched a cash box away from the guard as he arrived to make a delivery in a busy High Street. He then jumped on to the back of his accomplice’s scooter as a group of bystanders chased him. The robbers sped off up Mansfield Road towards the A31 dual carriageway, removing the money and throwing the box away.

Staff were inside the Lloyds TSB bank and lots of shoppers were already in Ringwood High Street yesterday morning when the raid happened. Graham said: “I was walking down the road when I noticed a scooter with its headlights on. “I heard a commotion and somebody shouted and this man outside the bank grabbed a case from the security guard. “He jumped on the back of the scooter and as he got on, he opened the case up and took the money out. “Then he threw the case on the floor.” The Black Honda SH300 scooter-style motorbike they used was later found abandoned at Narrow Lane in nearby Poulner, near the slip road on to the eastbound side of the A31.

Robbers snatch cash from security guard outside Ringwood Lloyds: Two robbers fled on a scooter after snatching cash from a security guard outside a bank yesterday morning. Staff were inside the Lloyds TSB bank and lots of shoppers were already in Ringwood High Street yesterday morning when one of the men jumped out and grappled the cash cassette from the guard after he had arrived outside to make a delivery. The robber jumped onto the back of his accomplice’s scooter as a group of bystanders chased after the two men, but they made it away with what was believed to be £25,000.

Graham Gore-Thorne, a window cleaner, was among the five or six have-a-go heroes who chased after them as they pulled the money from the cassette and discarded the empty case on the street. He said: “I was walking down the road when I noticed a scooter with its headlights on. “I heard a commotion and somebody shouted and this man outside the bank grabbed a case from the security guard. “He jumped on the back of the scooter and as he got on, he opened the case up and took the money out.  “Then he threw the case on the floor.” Graham said he heard that £25,000 was taken as he gave his statement. A Hampshire police spokesman said no one was hurt in the incident but ‘bank staff and the guard were left shocked by what happened’.

Staff at Lloyds told the Echo they heard a lot of shouting when the robbery happened outside. Afterwards the robbers fled up Mansfield Road towards the dual carriageway. And the Black Honda SH300, scooter-style motorbike they used was later found abandoned at Narrow Lane in Poulner, near the slip road on to the eastbound side of the A31. Witnesses said the robbers wore dark clothing and police believe the pair travelled from outside the area to commit the robbery. Chris Patterson, of W Patterson Butchers in High Street, said he saw the robbers flee past the security guard’s van. He said: “The case came flying out open into the street when they left. “Someone from Lloyds told me they got £25,000. “The guys at the bank said those cash cases just pop open and they were gone in seconds.”