0:00:02 > 0:00:04There's an area of crime that's getting worse.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Too often it has a devastating effect on its victims.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10I'm talking about doorstep crime.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12We're celebrating the work of police
0:00:12 > 0:00:14and Trading Standards teams all over the UK,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18as they turn the tables on the crooks responsible.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20And you've been sharing your success stories
0:00:20 > 0:00:24and ideas for how to root out the rotters.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Today, the distraction burglar who thinks he's found
0:00:27 > 0:00:30the perfect crime - but hasn't reckoned on the bravery
0:00:30 > 0:00:32of this Sussex consumer.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36To think that he could just...
0:00:37 > 0:00:42..sell my jewellery for that amount.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Plus, have you ever wondered what happens
0:00:45 > 0:00:47when you pay rogue traders by cheque?
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Find out, as Trading Standards
0:00:49 > 0:00:52expose a money-laundering operation in south London.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54We will prosecute anybody
0:00:54 > 0:00:58who allows rogue traders to use their accounts
0:00:58 > 0:01:00to effectively launder money.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02And exciting stuff - we're out and about
0:01:02 > 0:01:05in Oxfordshire with an award-winning Trading Standards team,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08as they close the net on a gang of crooks!
0:01:08 > 0:01:10We need to go and find these people.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Quicker we can stop it,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14the less harm there is to the residents of Oxfordshire
0:01:14 > 0:01:18and all those vulnerable people they're trying to take money from.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Hello, and thanks to all of you for sending in your thoughts
0:01:27 > 0:01:31on doorstep crime, and, more importantly, how to beat it.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32For instance, John Dibley,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35who's a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator from Surrey.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39He says nobody wants their door keys or car keys fished right out
0:01:39 > 0:01:42through the letterbox, so his tip is to keep all keys
0:01:42 > 0:01:46out of sight of windows and letterboxes once you've locked up.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But suppose you do fall victim to doorstep crime -
0:01:49 > 0:01:51who should you turn to?
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Well, Trading Standards would be a very good start,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and we've been on the road with an award-winning team in Oxfordshire.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Nationwide, law enforcement agencies are fighting back
0:02:03 > 0:02:08against doorstep crime - and that's certainly true in Oxfordshire.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12It's 8.30 in the morning, and Trading Standards officer
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Martin Woodley is already hard at work.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16A number of jobs coming...
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Martin heads up the doorstep crime rapid response team,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22which is made up of dedicated officers
0:02:22 > 0:02:25who work tirelessly to bring rogue traders
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and doorstep criminals to justice.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We need to get out there and catch the people when they're there,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32because if you get there after they've gone,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35after they've got the money - normally cash -
0:02:35 > 0:02:38it's very hard to identify or find out who these people are.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41One of the things that sets the unit apart
0:02:41 > 0:02:45from other Trading Standards teams is that it's completely self-sufficient,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48thanks to police officer Jayne Newman,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50on attachment from the Thames Valley Police.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53With me in the team, I'm able to make the arrests
0:02:53 > 0:02:56straight away when we attend an incident,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58if an arrest needs doing,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01instead of the team having to wait for the police to attend.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04A typical day involves Martin and Jayne
0:03:04 > 0:03:09hitting the roads so that they can respond to any emergency calls from distressed consumers.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Today they're investigating reports of driveway companies
0:03:13 > 0:03:16cold calling homeowners and using aggressive tactics.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21They will have their favourite areas to target. So, normally,
0:03:21 > 0:03:25it's quite wealthy areas and the elderly and vulnerable,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27areas with a lot of bungalows.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31The first lady they're visiting is so distressed by the incident
0:03:31 > 0:03:33that she doesn't want to be filmed.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37The lady's been visited twice within two days of each other
0:03:37 > 0:03:41by two separate companies trying to tarmac her drive,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44telling her that she's got to have it done.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Interestingly, if you have a look at the flyers they've left,
0:03:47 > 0:03:53it's exactly the same image being used on both flyers.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57In addition to the strikingly similar leaflets,
0:03:57 > 0:04:02both companies were forceful and quoted a price of £2,000.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05From experience, Martin knows the likelihood of this
0:04:05 > 0:04:07being a coincidence is extremely slim.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11But the biggest price is the impact these rogues have
0:04:11 > 0:04:13on the people they target.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I sometimes think if only the offenders could see
0:04:15 > 0:04:19the effects they have on some of the people's lives
0:04:19 > 0:04:22after they've done the offence,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24if they could see what they've left behind,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28maybe that might make a few of them change the way they go around
0:04:28 > 0:04:29and what they do.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Just minutes after leaving the scene, Martin and Jayne
0:04:33 > 0:04:36may have a lead on the gang that have been cold calling nearby.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40We've just received a call from another area
0:04:40 > 0:04:43that we've now got to respond to, because they are there at this time.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47We're going to see if we can find them and establish what they've done,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and if a crime's been committed and we find them, I'll be arresting them.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53A cross between Cagney and Lacey and Starsky and Hutch,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56they are out to catch these cold calling crooks red handed -
0:04:56 > 0:04:59but only if they can get there before the rogues leave.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06We'll check in with Martin's team in Oxford a little later on.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Now, here's another example of doorstep crime.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Hi. My name is Betty and last year
0:05:15 > 0:05:17a doorstep conman came
0:05:17 > 0:05:21and thought he could steal my precious jewellery.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I would like to tell viewers how he was caught
0:05:24 > 0:05:28and how they can avoid being caught themselves.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Betty sounds as if she has a poignant story to share -
0:05:32 > 0:05:34but first, let's take a look behind the scenes
0:05:34 > 0:05:36of a typical doorstep crime.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40We mustn't forget that some rogue traders and distraction burglars
0:05:40 > 0:05:44are just a front to a whole network of criminal activities.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48The target of this crooked scam is an 86-year-old
0:05:48 > 0:05:52who's keen for his story to be told to benefit others.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57He wants to keep his identity private, so we'll call him Peter.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01It was in July 2010 that a smooth-talking salesman
0:06:01 > 0:06:05arrived at his front door in south-east London.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I was cold called by a salesman who was well-dressed.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11He indicated that he'd had information that I was
0:06:11 > 0:06:14a previous customer of a company no longer in business,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and that I was entitled to any remedial work
0:06:17 > 0:06:20to the wall facings of the property.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24By pure coincidence, Peter had been concerned about the appearance
0:06:24 > 0:06:26of some cracks in his rendering,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30so the salesman's offer of some free work seemed too good to turn down.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34The pricing was never mentioned. It was just said that
0:06:34 > 0:06:38the cracks would be covered by the warranty or guarantee.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42I agreed they could have a look at the situation, and within an hour,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45he said they could have someone, as they were working locally,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47to come and start the work, which they did.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52It was a classic doorstep ruse.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Sadly, Peter was the perfect target.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58But before he could change his mind,
0:06:58 > 0:07:00the door-stepping rogues got down to business.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03But instead of repairing the cracks,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06they decided to remove half of his front wall.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Within the hour, the men arrived,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and before I knew, there was a hole
0:07:11 > 0:07:14three foot by three foot in the front of my bay.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18What started as an offer to fix some cracks now had poor Peter
0:07:18 > 0:07:22besieged in his own home with a gaping hole in his wall.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Of course, in classic conman style, it soon became obvious
0:07:26 > 0:07:30that the "free work" first offered was anything but.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35He asked me for money for materials, which I agreed to.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40I did go to the bank, withdrew £16,000.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42I thought at that time that was enough...
0:07:44 > 0:07:46..but it didn't stop there.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48You're right. It certainly didn't.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The crafty conmen then claimed that both the airbricks
0:07:51 > 0:07:55and the paving around the bay window would need replacing.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I had to withdraw a further £15,000.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I felt under pressure,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04but I just felt I had to get it done with.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06By now, the rogue builders had embezzled
0:08:06 > 0:08:10an incredible £31,000 from Peter,
0:08:10 > 0:08:11but they still weren't satisfied,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and demanded another £3,000 when they completed the work.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Reluctantly, Peter gave them a cheque,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but now feeling uneasy about what had happened,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23he took the brave decision to call Trading Standards,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25who quickly made a shocking discovery.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28The work that was actually carried out
0:08:28 > 0:08:31was valued at only £2,500,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34so this is a hugely exorbitant price to pay
0:08:34 > 0:08:38for work that, frankly, wasn't necessary in the first place.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42So it seemed that Peter had seen the last of his life savings.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44But this was to be the turning point,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46because money leaves a trail,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and the tenacious team at Bromley Trading Standards
0:08:49 > 0:08:50were on the case.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53'The next step was to find the money, and we did this by tracing
0:08:53 > 0:08:56'the cheques and cash transfers,'
0:08:56 > 0:08:58and more and more now, we are targeting
0:08:58 > 0:09:02those who allow their bank accounts to be used
0:09:02 > 0:09:04by way of forensic accounting,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07and we will prosecute anybody who facilitates this crime
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and allows rogue traders to use their accounts
0:09:11 > 0:09:14to effectively launder money.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Their investigation led the team to Michael Anthony Joyce,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20a man who was in the business of cashing cheques
0:09:20 > 0:09:23with no questions asked.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25We decided we needed to interview the suspect
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to find out what sort of role he had in these events,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31and following our interviews with him,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34it became apparent that he had decided to enter into
0:09:34 > 0:09:36a business arrangement with the rogue traders
0:09:36 > 0:09:40on the strength of what was a five-minute interview with them
0:09:40 > 0:09:42at a motorway service station.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Joyce admitted to a meeting with the conmen,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48during which he agreed to pay cheques and bank transfers
0:09:48 > 0:09:53into his account, totalling £291,000 -
0:09:53 > 0:09:58the tidy profit from a series of ruthless doorstep scams.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Happily, though, the court wasted no time
0:10:01 > 0:10:04in finding Joyce guilty of money laundering.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08The court imposed a 30-month prison term in this case
0:10:08 > 0:10:10and we were very pleased with that.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13It shows courts take a dim view of this type of activity.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Their unfortunate victim Peter can take great comfort in knowing
0:10:17 > 0:10:20that the gang's money man is now well behind bars -
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and the Proceeds of Crime Act means that he's hoping to reclaim
0:10:23 > 0:10:25at least some of his life savings.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Still, it's a tough lesson.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I feel I've been scammed, and I feel for other people
0:10:31 > 0:10:34that must be in the same situation as me.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It's a simple lesson
0:10:37 > 0:10:40of not entertaining these people, because they're quite unscrupulous.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43They appear to be very nice
0:10:43 > 0:10:46but behind that mask, they're after all they can get.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Although the doorstep criminals who targeted Peter are still at large,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Trading Standards are working positively to ensure that
0:10:53 > 0:10:57the laundering of money is made much more difficult.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01The golden rule for all these cases is you can stop it
0:11:01 > 0:11:05before it starts, and that's simply by saying "no" at your front door.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Never accept any offers at your front door,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09especially from a cold call.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Well said, Rob. Now, still to come,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15the distraction burglar who met his match
0:11:15 > 0:11:17when he tackled this lady from West Sussex.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I rang the police.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23They said that they thought they would be able to find him
0:11:23 > 0:11:26without any problem, because I also had his name.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32At this point, we return to Oxfordshire,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36where Trading Standards officer Martin Woodley is hot on the trail
0:11:36 > 0:11:38of doorstep crooks.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Martin heads up a crack team
0:11:42 > 0:11:45which is known for its rapid response tactics
0:11:45 > 0:11:47to bring doorstep criminals to justice.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Today, he and fellow team member PC Jayne Newman are investigating reports
0:11:51 > 0:11:55of driveway companies aggressively pushing for business.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57They're responding to an urgent call
0:11:57 > 0:12:01to a house where traders fitting this description have just called.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Martin and Jayne hope it's the same gang
0:12:03 > 0:12:07who targeted another elderly lady this morning.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Going to have a chat with the victim, see what's gone on,
0:12:10 > 0:12:11see why they've tried to...
0:12:11 > 0:12:13how much they've charged her,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16are they coming back to try and get the money from her?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18And, if they are, we'll see what we can do to help her.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Frustratingly for Martin, the rogues are nowhere to be seen,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26but after speaking to the homeowner, who also wants to remain anonymous,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29it sounds as though it was the same gang.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33They told her they wanted to tarmac this bit of road here.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36We do not even know if it belongs to her.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40But that's the bit they said they want to do for £2,000.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Luckily, the lady's said no,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and she's called ourselves and the police,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48and now we're going to see if we can find them
0:12:48 > 0:12:50and ask them what else is going on.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54It's always wise to contact Trading Standards as soon as
0:12:54 > 0:12:58anything like this happens, so that swift action can be taken.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01He may have missed them this time, but Martin's not one
0:13:01 > 0:13:05to give in easily, and nor is his colleague Jayne Newman.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09What we're doing now is going to see another victim
0:13:09 > 0:13:12that has been targeted by these offenders,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16and we're going to see if there's any evidence of who they are.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Incensed by what has just happened,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22the local man doesn't wish to be identified, but is keen
0:13:22 > 0:13:25to do all he can to see that these rogues are stopped in their tracks.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30He said, "Oh, I've got a leaflet for you about..."
0:13:30 > 0:13:33I said, "No, I'm sorry, but I can't afford that kind of thing."
0:13:33 > 0:13:35"Oh, but," he said, "it all needs doing."
0:13:35 > 0:13:37"It's all getting in bad state."
0:13:37 > 0:13:39I said, "Yeah, but I can't afford it!"
0:13:39 > 0:13:42"You don't have to pay for it straight away.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44"You can pay for it in the next three or four weeks."
0:13:44 > 0:13:47"But we'll do it for you.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49"It'll cost you £2,000."
0:13:49 > 0:13:52I said, "I don't want anything done. I can't afford it."
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Once again, Martin and Jayne have narrowly missed the crooks,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59but, with common threads between the cases,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Martin's convinced it is the same gang.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04What he's given to us is another card.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This card appears to have the same pictures,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10same format...the only thing that seems to be different
0:14:10 > 0:14:13is the name of the company, so...
0:14:13 > 0:14:17we've got reason to believe there's a reasonable chance
0:14:17 > 0:14:21that it's the same people, but just using a different name.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Knowing full well that these doorstep criminals are in the area,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Martin is determined to take decisive action.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31We need to get on top of it.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34It's something we need to stop as soon as possible.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36So we need to go and find these people.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38The quicker we can stop it,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40the less harm there is to the residents of Oxfordshire
0:14:40 > 0:14:44and all those vulnerable people they're trying to take money from.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51In addition to reading your inspirational emails,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54we've also really enjoyed meeting you in person
0:14:54 > 0:14:57to get your thoughts on doorstep crime.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01I think everybody can get involved to help stop doorstep crime
0:15:01 > 0:15:04just by being part of their own community.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Scams are frequent and come in all forms.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10It's difficult, if someone's pleasant,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13to think that they perhaps have an ulterior motive.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Who would have thought somewhere
0:15:18 > 0:15:21as tranquil and lovely as the West Sussex coast
0:15:21 > 0:15:24would play host to a devious doorstep crime?
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Well, 21-year-old Thomas Jeeves made it his playground.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The young man was well-known to police,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32thanks to several convictions for theft.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36But when he knocked on the door of 78-year-old widow Betty Lewry,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38he met his match.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Betty, just explain to me how you came across
0:15:41 > 0:15:43this conman in the first place. How did you meet him?
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Well, he came about the loft insulation.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51He seemed very pleasant. He was smartly dressed,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54nice hair, and...
0:15:54 > 0:15:57just a very pleasant person to talk to.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01That initial encounter led to Betty having her loft insulated
0:16:01 > 0:16:03by the company that Jeeves worked for.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06They did a good job and she was pleased with the work,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09so when Jeeves turned up on her doorstep several months later,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Betty didn't have any cause for concern.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18He came to say that he wanted to inspect
0:16:18 > 0:16:20the work had been done properly,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and I recognised him.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25But did you check his ID when he came?
0:16:25 > 0:16:30Yes, I did. He had it with his photo on it,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32so that's why I wasn't suspicious at all.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35And were you pre-occupied at the time?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Yes, I was going on holiday the following day,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41so I was busy.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43So I just said to him,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45"Well, you know where it is."
0:16:45 > 0:16:48So you stayed downstairs getting ready for your holiday?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50And he was upstairs alone?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Yes. He was such a pleasant chap
0:16:52 > 0:16:56that I didn't think anything about it.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58In a way, why would Betty be wary?
0:16:58 > 0:17:01After all, a familiar face, and a company that she trusted.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Little did she know that Jeeves had been sacked
0:17:03 > 0:17:05by the insulation company,
0:17:05 > 0:17:10but had kept his identification card despite them asking for its return.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12While her back was turned downstairs,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Jeeves rifled through her bedroom
0:17:14 > 0:17:18and stole some of her most precious and personal belongings.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21At what point did you realise that your jewellery had gone?
0:17:21 > 0:17:23It wasn't until the evening.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28I went to the dressing table to get my jewellery
0:17:28 > 0:17:30and realised that it had gone.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32And what exactly did he take?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35My engagement ring, my eternity ring.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Some of the things, naturally, that my late husband bought me and,
0:17:40 > 0:17:45as I say, I was really upset because I can't replace them at all.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50He'd taken the most precious things that I still had from my husband.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54How much from a memory point of view does the jewellery mean to you?
0:17:54 > 0:17:58The world, really, because my engagement ring
0:17:58 > 0:18:03and the rings, well, I've had them so many years.
0:18:03 > 0:18:0845 years we were married, and it's just gone.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12As he left with his pockets full of Betty's most precious possessions,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Jeeves was cool, calm and collected,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18but he had greatly underestimated her, because once she got over
0:18:18 > 0:18:21the initial shock and heartache of what had happened,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Betty set the wheels of justice in motion.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27I called the police, and they came out,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29they were very good, actually.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They thought they'd find him
0:18:32 > 0:18:36without any problems because I also had his name.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Calling the police was the best thing that Betty could have done.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Detective Constable Faye Satchwell-Bennett
0:18:43 > 0:18:44headed up the investigation.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Betty was an excellent witness.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49She knew exactly what had happened
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and she was very consistent in her account.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Opportunist burglars target the vulnerable in society.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57They met their match in Betty
0:18:57 > 0:19:00because she could remember everything that happened.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04With the information from Betty's statement, it wasn't long
0:19:04 > 0:19:07before the police were able to trace Jeeves' footsteps.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Our investigations led us to a shop within Sussex
0:19:10 > 0:19:12that advertised cash for gold,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and we know that on that very day,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16immediately after he had stolen her jewellery,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20he had gone to that shop where he had sold the items for £91.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Fortunately for us, they kept receipts
0:19:22 > 0:19:25and he'd used his driving licence as identification
0:19:25 > 0:19:27when he sold the jewellery,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and he then went on to a betting shop
0:19:29 > 0:19:32where he bet away the money he'd got for the jewellery.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37Awful. That's just £91 in exchange for the jewellery that held
0:19:37 > 0:19:40over 45 years' worth of priceless memories.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Naturally, this news came as a real shock.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Very, very upset to think that
0:19:46 > 0:19:52he could just sell my jewellery
0:19:52 > 0:19:53for that amount.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57And with everything that it meant to you.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Yeah. But...
0:20:01 > 0:20:02That must have made it worse.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Yes, it did.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07With the evidence stacking up against the suspect,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11it was only a matter of time before he got his just deserts.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Many people will think this is a very brazen crime.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I think he relied on the fact that she was elderly
0:20:17 > 0:20:20and that she would not remember him,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22not remember his ID badge,
0:20:22 > 0:20:26and probably take a period of time to realise the jewellery was gone,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28so I think he believed that would happen.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32With a strong case against Jeeves, the police wanted to prosecute,
0:20:32 > 0:20:34but for Betty this meant the daunting prospect
0:20:34 > 0:20:37of giving evidence in court.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- Did you hesitate about going to court?- Yes.
0:20:40 > 0:20:41I did think about it,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44because it really is an ordeal,
0:20:44 > 0:20:49but if it helps the police, I thought,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51well, yes, I would go.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54And how did it feel on that day in court? Were you very nervous?
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Yes. Very nervous.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00So did his defence try to accuse you of negligence
0:21:00 > 0:21:03or being mistaken or anything like that?
0:21:03 > 0:21:07They tried to make out that perhaps I'd left the front door open.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Also that I had a siesta.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14You must have been incensed at that idea.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Well, I was extremely annoyed, to be perfectly honest,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21because I'm not senile,
0:21:21 > 0:21:26and I do know what I'm talking about.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28How did you feel when you saw this guy in court?
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Cos at the beginning you thought he was a nice young man.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Very plausible, very well-dressed,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36but how did you feel on the day knowing he'd taken your jewellery
0:21:36 > 0:21:37and invaded your privacy?
0:21:37 > 0:21:42To start with, I began to feel a little bit sorry for him, I think.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44- Why?- He was young and what-have-you,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48and I thought he had ruined his life,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51but after seeing him in court and what he had been up to,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I think he deserved all he got.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58It emerged that just three weeks before turning up at Betty's,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Jeeves had burgled an elderly man whom he'd befriended
0:22:01 > 0:22:03a few months earlier. He stole jewellery,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07used the man's bank card for purchases valued at over £1,400,
0:22:07 > 0:22:12and wrote fraudulent cheques totalling £1,500.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15But on the 11th April, 2011,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Thomas Jeeves got his comeuppance, when he was sentenced
0:22:18 > 0:22:21to 21 months' imprisonment for distraction burglary.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25'Justice had been done, but, as brave as Betty had been,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27'the entire process was quite an ordeal.'
0:22:27 > 0:22:29By this stage, you've been through
0:22:29 > 0:22:32the trauma of having your jewellery stolen,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34you've now had to deal with the police and go to court.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37What have you learned? What's your personal lesson?
0:22:37 > 0:22:41I'm very careful now when anybody comes to the door.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45If they haven't made an appointment,
0:22:45 > 0:22:50I won't let them in. Also, I had a chain put on the front door.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52So now it's like Fort Knox, eh?
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Yes.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Tremendous thanks to Betty for sharing her story with us.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03It's comforting to know that, sooner or later,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05the law catches up with doorstep criminals.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Well, now we move to Oxfordshire,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09and the residents there must feel reassured
0:23:09 > 0:23:12that Trading Standards officer Martin Woodley
0:23:12 > 0:23:15is standing up for their consumer rights.
0:23:17 > 0:23:22Martin and PC Jayne Newman are on the trail of a new gang of doorstep criminals
0:23:22 > 0:23:24who are posing as two different companies,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27cold calling vulnerable residents in Oxford
0:23:27 > 0:23:31and bullying them into having their driveways fixed or replaced.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34So far, Martin and Jayne have met three victims
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and gathered several pieces of evidence against the gang.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39As often can happen with a rapid response team,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42their pursuit has been interrupted
0:23:42 > 0:23:44by an urgent call from a worried consumer.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48On arrival, this case has a striking similarity
0:23:48 > 0:23:49to the others.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51We've turned up at this complaint.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54You can see they're doing two driveways.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Obviously from first indications
0:23:56 > 0:23:59is that not enough earth has been taken away,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02and the hardcore that had been left
0:24:02 > 0:24:04was very poor quality. This is definitely not
0:24:04 > 0:24:10a type one, which they stipulated on the paperwork.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14This is just crushed-up rubble you could get off any builder's site.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19It's disgusting that these crooks have tried to charge a fortune
0:24:19 > 0:24:22for what is nothing more than rubble. Martin and Jayne
0:24:22 > 0:24:24aren't certain if this driveway crime is linked
0:24:24 > 0:24:26to the gang they've been pursuing,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29but it's certainly given them plenty of new leads to explore.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Either way, rogue traders are targeting residents
0:24:32 > 0:24:34on Martin's patch, so he intends to get hold of them
0:24:34 > 0:24:37as quickly as possible.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39We're playing catch-up at the moment,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42but this is the sort of job where they just move off.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45We're now going to do an area search.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47We suspect they may be in another location.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51This seems like a classic case of doorstep crime, but the good news is
0:24:51 > 0:24:53that after interviewing the residents,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Martin and Jayne think they have amassed enough evidence
0:24:56 > 0:24:59about these persuasive cold callers.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Within the last two days, with the information we've got
0:25:03 > 0:25:05and all the information obtained from witnesses
0:25:05 > 0:25:09and intelligence, we now know who we're dealing with.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13It's very similar scenarios to what's happening all the time,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16in these similar scams.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Martin and Jayne continue their enquiries
0:25:20 > 0:25:22and are confident of a successful outcome.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And if any other doorstep criminals are thinking about
0:25:25 > 0:25:29plying their trade in Oxfordshire, Martin has a word of warning.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Let me get the message out to those that think
0:25:32 > 0:25:35they can come into Oxfordshire and take advantage.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37It doesn't matter where you are,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41we will even get warrants to come over cross-border
0:25:41 > 0:25:44to come and find you and deal with you.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47It's a great example of the essential work being carried out
0:25:47 > 0:25:51by the doorstep crime team. Martin's dedication to his job
0:25:51 > 0:25:53was recognised when he was awarded an MBE
0:25:53 > 0:25:57for services to local government in the 2011 honours list,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59although, being a team player,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03it's an accolade that he's reluctant to take all the credit for.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I felt very proud, not only for myself,
0:26:05 > 0:26:10but also for all the other Trading Standards officers across the UK,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13because it's representation for everybody
0:26:13 > 0:26:15trying to achieve the same goal.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And well done to that crack team in Oxford.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Well, there's time for one last letter.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26This is from Jane in Wiltshire,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30whose tip is to always keep a piece of paper and pencil handy,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33on the windowsill or in your car, so that you can make a note of
0:26:33 > 0:26:37any registration number or details of anyone acting suspiciously.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40I think that's a good tip, so thanks for that, Jane.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43As you know, we're here to fight back against doorstep criminals
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and we'd really love to hear more about
0:26:45 > 0:26:48how you have managed to stop them ripping you off.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50You can always find the details
0:26:50 > 0:26:54about how to contact us here:
0:26:54 > 0:26:56All I can say is, thank you very much for your company,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I hope you'll join me next time. From all of us, bye-bye.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd