0:00:02 > 0:00:04We've been travelling the UK to hear how you've been
0:00:04 > 0:00:07fighting back against doorstep crime, rip-off rogue traders,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09cold-calling conmen - all of them -
0:00:09 > 0:00:12and we're united to bring those scammers to justice.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17We're celebrating the work of award-winning police
0:00:17 > 0:00:19and trading standards teams all over the UK.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24Plus, with your invaluable help, we've been spreading the message
0:00:24 > 0:00:26that these crooks must be stopped.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Today, we hear from an award-winning group
0:00:30 > 0:00:33in Merseyside, who have been rewarded for their success
0:00:33 > 0:00:35in reducing doorstep crime.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37And I meet the family of an elderly woman,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41who suffered a devastating encounter with a doorstep crook.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46What happened on that fateful night when she let this guy in?
0:00:46 > 0:00:50She pleaded with him, "Don't leave me like this, I'm nearly 83."
0:00:50 > 0:00:52He said, "Give me your money." She said, "I've got no money."
0:00:52 > 0:00:56The story of how one father and son door-stepping duo
0:00:56 > 0:01:01preyed on the elderly and vulnerable residents of Cheshire.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Well, he went on the roof and he was there for less than an hour.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I don't know what prompted me,
0:01:08 > 0:01:14but I just had a vague suspicion that everything wasn't all right.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Plus, we head to Yorkshire to find out how hard-working police officers
0:01:18 > 0:01:22tried to bring one distraction burglar to justice.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Most people who commit distraction burglaries, our records show,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28are men, normally acting in pairs.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31This case was quite unusual, as it was a female acting on her own.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Hello. I'm really glad you've been able to join us for the programme.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Throughout the series we've heard shocking stories of doorstep crime
0:01:44 > 0:01:46and yet, many, many heart-warming stories
0:01:46 > 0:01:48of communities taking a stance.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51That's certainly true in Merseyside, because a whole community
0:01:51 > 0:01:55is fighting back, following a very disturbing doorstep crime.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01In 2008, 82-year-old Margaret Briers died,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04after falling victim to a violent burglar.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10Four years later, her family are still trying to come to terms with the devastating attack.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13I'm very pleased that two of Margaret's daughters,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Pauline and Jean, have come to London to share their story with us.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22What happened on that fateful night, when she let this guy in?
0:02:22 > 0:02:25There was a bang on the window - "It's the police.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27"Open up, you've got an intruder in the back."
0:02:27 > 0:02:28So, I think she's panicked,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31opened up, but as she's opened the door, he's pushed her
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and got past her and put her arm up her back,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and took her into the front room.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39And he just threw her to the floor,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43and as he threw her, she's gone to get the call cord from round her neck,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and he snatched that off her and threw it.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Then he unplugged the telephone, so she'd no way of getting help.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Despite Margaret's attempts to defend herself,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55she, obviously, was no match for the intruder.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Once away from her, he began to search the house
0:02:58 > 0:03:00and her belongings, looking for money.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03As he was leaving, she pleaded with him,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05"Don't leave me like this, I'm nearly 83."
0:03:05 > 0:03:08He said "Well, give me your money." She said, "I've got no money."
0:03:08 > 0:03:09So, he did swear at her.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12He went off and he left the front door wide open,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and the living room door, so she was there all night, for 12 hours,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17freezing cold, as well as being in agony.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Sadly, Pauline found her mother the following morning.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Unable to move,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26she was still stranded on the living room floor and in immense pain.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Later, it turned out that her hip was broken in three places.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32When she was admitted into hospital, how was she?
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I think she was in a state of shock, really, she was.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And she was terrified.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41How did she progress that week?
0:03:41 > 0:03:44She went down. She started with a chest infection
0:03:44 > 0:03:47and they couldn't operate because of the chest infection
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and that was due to the fall and the cold.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Margaret died while still in hospital.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56A postmortem concluded that this was a direct result
0:03:56 > 0:03:59of the injuries she received when she opened her door
0:03:59 > 0:04:03to the thief, who had made away with just £16.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Of course, her family are still devastated.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12I just hope that he walks in my shoes for one day
0:04:12 > 0:04:17and then he may have a bit of how I feel.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19As to how he's changed your life?
0:04:19 > 0:04:23How he's changed my life, yeah. The damage he's done to this family.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25There's so many answers we need
0:04:25 > 0:04:28that you can't even think about getting, you know.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30It's with you from morning till night.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Obviously, this tragedy will stay with them,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37but it also inspired their local community
0:04:37 > 0:04:40to mobilise against distraction burglars and other rogues.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45Margaret's death was very tragic. It had a huge impact
0:04:45 > 0:04:48on all the residents locally. They were frightened to open the door,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52frightened to go out and it really was bad at one stage.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55We decided that we wanted to do something in the community
0:04:55 > 0:04:59to raise awareness of bogus calling and prevent
0:04:59 > 0:05:00this happening in the future.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04We'll find out more about their heroic work a little later on.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Now, here's yet another example of doorstep crime.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16'Hello, Gloria, I'm Joan.'
0:05:16 > 0:05:21I've been a victim of doorstep crime involving a repair to my chimney.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I just want to tell you my story, in the hope that it'll prevent
0:05:25 > 0:05:28other people from being taken in as I was.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Well, Joan, that certainly sounds like an intriguing story
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and we've been to find out exactly what happened.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Cheshire has seen its share of cold-calling chancers
0:05:44 > 0:05:50but a scheme has been set up in one part of the county which is designed to protect the vulnerable.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Kay Roberts of Cheshire East Trading Standards
0:05:53 > 0:05:56is determined to keep them safe.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Doorstep crime is one of the worst
0:05:58 > 0:06:00type of offences that we investigate
0:06:00 > 0:06:05and it doesn't just mean that the vulnerable victim
0:06:05 > 0:06:06has been conned out of money
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and have work done that they didn't need to have done.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12It affects them much more than that and it affects them
0:06:12 > 0:06:13for the rest of their lives.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16They may feel that they're unable to go out,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20they may become a recluse and it can affect their health.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The type of people who prey on these vulnerable
0:06:23 > 0:06:25and elderly victims really are despicable.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Across the series, we've seen many neighbourhoods promote
0:06:29 > 0:06:30"No cold calling" stickers.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Householders place these on their doors to deter bogus callers.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37But in Cheshire East, the worry was that this
0:06:37 > 0:06:41wasn't an effective solution and something better was needed.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43The benefit of the nominated neighbour scheme
0:06:43 > 0:06:47is that there are no stickers in the window and so no visible identifiers
0:06:47 > 0:06:49that there's a vulnerable or elderly person
0:06:49 > 0:06:55living at that address and they simply have a stash of cards within
0:06:55 > 0:07:00their house that they can use as and when they receive unsolicited calls.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03So when there's an unexpected knock at the door,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06the startled homeowner can simply show the caller the card.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11It directs them to an appointed neighbour who can decide
0:07:11 > 0:07:12if the caller is genuine.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16If only this scheme had been in existence back in 2010
0:07:16 > 0:07:19when Macclesfield resident Joan Morrison was targeted
0:07:19 > 0:07:24by father and son rogues, Donald and James Warner.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27One Saturday afternoon, having tea with a friend,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31a knock came on the door and this gentleman appeared
0:07:31 > 0:07:36and he said that he could see that my chimney was in a state of disrepair.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41"Would I like to come into the road and have a look at it?"
0:07:41 > 0:07:45I thought I should have it seen to.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49The man told Joan that her chimney needed urgent repairs.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51He claimed that, in its current state, it would leak
0:07:51 > 0:07:54and cause untold damage to her home.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00Living on one's own, you feel vulnerable...
0:08:01 > 0:08:05..and any repairs that need to be done, you feel that you should
0:08:05 > 0:08:10have them done, immediately, to avoid further expense.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I thought about it and it really did worry me.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17So, Joan agreed to the repairs, believing they were essential.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20For this, she was to be charged £240.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Then it occurred to her that she should seek a second opinion.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32Well, he went on the roof and he was there for less than an hour.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34I don't know what prompted me,
0:08:34 > 0:08:40but I just had a vague suspicion that everything wasn't all right.
0:08:40 > 0:08:48So I phoned a local builder to ask him about the price of the work
0:08:48 > 0:08:54done on a chimney and he said that I shouldn't pay any more than £100.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Joan did what all of us should do in a situation like this.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01She called Trading Standards and, very soon, they were with her.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06We went out to Mrs Morrison's address and waited for the tradesman
0:09:06 > 0:09:11to return to the address for payment that she'd agreed with them.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14We sat at the address for some time and nobody arrived.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18The officers waited several hours for the Warners to return
0:09:18 > 0:09:23and left reluctantly, when it seemed that nobody was coming back.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Then, just five minutes after they had gone,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28one of the crafty pair arrived on Joan's doorstep.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Bravely, she decided to square up to him alone.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36In this awkward situation, she agreed to pay him some of the money.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43I wasn't nervous, no. I had decided that £150 was as much
0:09:43 > 0:09:51as I was going to pay and that was it and when the son arrived
0:09:51 > 0:09:57I said, "I'm not going to pay you £240, I shall pay you £150."
0:09:57 > 0:10:02Mr Warner then came on the telephone and said, "Well, at least £200."
0:10:02 > 0:10:07And I said, "No. £150 is all I'm prepared to pay."
0:10:07 > 0:10:08What courage!
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Of course, when their work was later assessed, it was found to be
0:10:12 > 0:10:18totally unnecessary and over-priced, possibly by as much as £150.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20So Joan was quite right not to hand over the quoted price.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25The amount she paid was much closer to what it should have cost.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29With an inquiry into the Warners underway, Trading Standards
0:10:29 > 0:10:33were building a clearer picture of how the crooked pair did business.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37The Warner standard practice was to pressurise their victims
0:10:37 > 0:10:41and to scaremonger, basically, and frighten them into
0:10:41 > 0:10:43having the work done, because they would then be
0:10:43 > 0:10:46frightened of the consequences of not having that work done.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51So for instance, they had said in some cases, the roof
0:10:51 > 0:10:53would blow off the house if they didn't have the work done.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58They also said that the price was only available at that time,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01so if they didn't take advantage of the price there and then,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04it would increase, if they had to come back at a later date.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09All absolute lies, of course. The inquiry uncovered ten victims.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Three of them formed the case for the prosecution.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17In February 2012, Donald and James Warner pleaded guilty to fraud.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Both were given 12-month community orders
0:11:20 > 0:11:23and told to pay costs of over £2,000.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26There was good news for Joan, as well.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29because the pair had to pay her £150 compensation.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36After I heard the verdict regarding the Warners, I was pleased for
0:11:36 > 0:11:42all the other people that might have been intimidated by their actions.
0:11:42 > 0:11:49And again if, by going to court
0:11:49 > 0:11:53and getting a conviction, it might send a signal out
0:11:53 > 0:11:57to other people not do to this sort of thing, so much the better.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Trading Standards realised that they could do something else
0:12:01 > 0:12:03to make sure this didn't happen again.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06They applied for something known as a CRASBO -
0:12:06 > 0:12:08a court order similar to an ASBO.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12In this case, it stands for Criminally Sought Anti-Social Behaviour Order.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17A bit of a mouthful, but a great way to deal with door-stepping crooks.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20This means that the Warners are no longer able to make
0:12:20 > 0:12:23unsolicited calls at private dwelling addresses
0:12:23 > 0:12:27and they're also not able to employ anybody on their behalf
0:12:27 > 0:12:30to make unsolicited calls, so this means that they are unable
0:12:30 > 0:12:36to carry on illegitimate trading practices that they were conducting
0:12:36 > 0:12:40before and taking advantage of elderly and vulnerable victims.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45So that's two crooks who won't be knocking on our doors anytime soon.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47And with the nominated neighbour scheme now in place,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51there's better protection available for the vulnerable in Cheshire East.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56The nominated neighbour scheme, which was instituted
0:12:56 > 0:13:00after my experience, is incredible.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04I think that it enables neighbours to look out for one another,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08which is extremely important, especially as one gets older.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15I find that, nowadays, each and every neighbour in this area tends
0:13:15 > 0:13:18to look after the other, which is all to the good.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28Still to come, we're with South Yorkshire Police as they investigate
0:13:28 > 0:13:32the odd case of a female distraction burglar, who targeted the elderly.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34At this stage, she'd actually got into the house
0:13:34 > 0:13:37and it didn't feel right at all and I think it's quite safe
0:13:37 > 0:13:41to say that throughout all this time, Derek was never too happy.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Once again, thank you for all your letters
0:13:47 > 0:13:49and e-mails. We love getting them.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51And we've had one from Anne Blackburn,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55who lives in West Sussex, and wrote to say she once gave £10
0:13:55 > 0:13:58to a very plausible-looking man at her door,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02collecting money for his charity, Wing Walk, at the local airfield.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07Later, she had second thoughts and alerted neighbours and police.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Turns out, he had scammed dozens of well-intentioned people
0:14:10 > 0:14:12in her neighbourhood.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14So Anne recommends anyone faced with a similar story
0:14:14 > 0:14:16at the doorstep to beware.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Think twice and be very certain before handing over
0:14:19 > 0:14:20your well-earned cash.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Now, let's rejoin the people of Merseyside,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26as a community stands up to doorstep crime.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Sometimes, one event can be the trigger for a group of people
0:14:32 > 0:14:35to fight back. And that's exactly what happened
0:14:35 > 0:14:38when 82-year-old Margaret Briers died,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42the victim of a violent distraction burglary in 2008.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46None of the family are going to get over this,
0:14:46 > 0:14:51and our hopes are that the person is caught and punished,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55but also for the safety of other people and their families, because
0:14:55 > 0:14:59it's not just the victim, it's the families that suffer, as well.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03The tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the community
0:15:03 > 0:15:05and was the catalyst for the Doorstep Project,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09an award-winning initiative run by the Merseyside Residents Network,
0:15:09 > 0:15:14to try and stamp out the ongoing problem of doorstep crime.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18The day before our cameras arrived, another local had been targeted.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Good morning and thank you for turning up for this project.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26We've been informed by the police
0:15:26 > 0:15:31that there's been an incident with a bogus caller yesterday,
0:15:31 > 0:15:32so our timing is quite perfect today.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37Let's crack on, get this done, make people safer in Liverpool. So again, thank you.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41We have had a number of calls in the past months about bogus callers
0:15:41 > 0:15:44in the area wearing fluorescent jackets.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47So it's most important today that, any house that you call at,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49you ensure that you show them your identification,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Take your time to explain why you're here.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It is about stopping people crossing the threshold.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Some people are very naive about who they will let into the premises
0:15:57 > 0:16:02We need to make sure that they fully understand who's at the door and why they shouldn't let them in.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05As volunteer Catherine Dutton explains,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Margaret's unfortunate death had a profound effect
0:16:08 > 0:16:11on The Merseyside Residents Network.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Our work previously was around tenants
0:16:14 > 0:16:18and residents' associations and helping them to form,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21but because of Margaret's death, we decided we needed to be
0:16:21 > 0:16:27more community-focussed and we came up with the idea of the project.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Margaret's family wholeheartedly support the volunteers,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33as they go to door-to-door across Merseyside.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36I think it gives a lot of elderly people a bit more confidence
0:16:36 > 0:16:41that there's somebody out there taking notice that they do need help and they do need protecting
0:16:41 > 0:16:43and I think it's really good what they're doing.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I wish this had been around before this happened to my mum.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49She could still be around and it would have helped her.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Today, these determined volunteers have teamed up with police
0:16:54 > 0:16:56on the streets of Merseyside,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59to raise awareness and improve residents' home security,
0:16:59 > 0:17:04to prevent anyone else suffering the same fate as Margaret.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09I think today's event will help people be more aware of bogus callers.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13So what we're doing is we're calling at the addresses and we're offering
0:17:13 > 0:17:16people crime prevention advice and also target hardening goods.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Let's try and identify the culprits and get them arrested
0:17:19 > 0:17:20and put behind bars.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24It's going to be a long day for all involved, but door-to-door calling
0:17:24 > 0:17:27is the only way to cover the entire neighbourhood.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30I believe you have been victim in the past to a bogus official.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32We have, indeed.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37It's all regarding the Doorstep Project, which is to defeat bogus callers.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41One of the safety devices on offer to residents
0:17:41 > 0:17:44is a mirror, which when used in conjunction with a chain,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46enables the person answering the door to get a good look
0:17:46 > 0:17:49at who is standing on the doorstep.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53The volunteers are also distributing handy magnifiers
0:17:53 > 0:17:56to help residents check the ID of anyone knocking on their door.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59We can only hope that people do use the chains.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02We can only hope that people do use the mirrors and ask
0:18:02 > 0:18:07for identification but, you know, if we put it in 100 homes, 50 people
0:18:07 > 0:18:12use it, it's 50 people out of a 100, which would satisfy us immensely.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Volunteer Stephanie Tomlinson knows just what it's like
0:18:16 > 0:18:18to be targeted by doorstep conmen.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Two rogues posed as water board officials
0:18:21 > 0:18:25and told her they needed to test her drains with a special dye.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28One of them insisted on me going into the back garden to see
0:18:28 > 0:18:31if it came through the drainpipe and another was in the kitchen,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34to check if the water was going through the system
0:18:34 > 0:18:36of a different colour.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Well, I was quite insistent on both of them staying with me
0:18:38 > 0:18:42in the kitchen and, eventually, they left
0:18:42 > 0:18:47and later on in the week, one of our residents, unfortunately,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50was bogus called and they did steal items from her home.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53If we can prevent doorstep crime by projects like today
0:18:53 > 0:18:55it would benefit the whole community.
0:18:55 > 0:19:01In fact, in less than two years, the Doorstep Project has provided help,
0:19:01 > 0:19:06support and home security to nearly 3,000 households.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Their inspirational work has been celebrated
0:19:09 > 0:19:11with both a regional and a national award.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16I'm told that there are plans to roll the project out across the UK.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18We were delighted and I think we won
0:19:18 > 0:19:22because it was community working for the community.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Margaret's death was really tragic
0:19:25 > 0:19:33and we feel that by doing this project, she's left a legacy.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38It's made other people safer and hopefully will stop the crime.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Clearly, our thanks to the Merseyside Residents' Network
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and to Pauline. I must say, it's heartening to see something positive
0:19:49 > 0:19:51develop from such tragedy.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Now it's time to reveal how a doorstep criminal was brought
0:19:54 > 0:19:57to justice, thanks to the South Yorkshire's determined police.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03In 2010, residents in the Doncaster area
0:20:03 > 0:20:07were targeted by a distraction burglar, who gained entry
0:20:07 > 0:20:11to their homes by preying on their kindness and good nature.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13But as South Yorkshire Police discovered,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16this particular doorstep criminal did not fit the usual profile.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Steve Whittaker headed up the investigation.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Most people who commit distraction burglaries,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26our records show are men, normally acting in pairs.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29This case was quite unusual because it was a female acting on her own.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31So again it just goes to show,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35there's no specific type of person who commits this type of offence.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38We can't name this young crook for legal reasons,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40so we'll call her Janine.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44One evening, she called at the door of 73-year-old Derek Harper.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47He'd just returned from an evening at the local community centre,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50where he plays bingo with his friends.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I come home, made myself a cup of tea, watched a bit of telly.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56At half past ten, I went to bed.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01At 10.50, the bell went.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06Of course, it was Janine at the door and poor Derek
0:21:06 > 0:21:10found himself on the receiving end of a classic doorstep con.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Janine's first trick was to enquire after the health
0:21:13 > 0:21:16of one of Derek's friends, who used to live there.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Once Derek told Janine that his friend had died some years earlier,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22she tried another tactic.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27She asked for a drink of water, so I told her to stop outside
0:21:27 > 0:21:28while I went and got it.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31By asking Janine to wait on the doorstep,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Derek had done the right thing, but the mistake he made
0:21:34 > 0:21:37was not closing the door behind him.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41At this stage, she'd got into the house and it didn't feel right,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and I think it's quite safe to say that throughout all this time
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Derek was never too happy. I think, like a lot of people,
0:21:48 > 0:21:49the guard goes down a little bit
0:21:49 > 0:21:53and he decided against his better judgement,
0:21:53 > 0:21:58to give her a glass of water and obviously his gut feeling
0:21:58 > 0:22:02was right because, as she's left the house,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05she's taken £30 and his wallet.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Now, stealing £30 pounds may not seem like a big deal,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11but it turned out that Janine used similar tactics to steal
0:22:11 > 0:22:13from a handful of other victims.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Luckily, Derek realised that his wallet was missing
0:22:16 > 0:22:19from his coat pocket almost as soon as she left his house.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Determined to get it back, he chased after her.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27I said, "Come on, give me it." She said, "What?"
0:22:27 > 0:22:29I said, "Me wallet!"
0:22:29 > 0:22:32She said, "I ain't got your wallet!" I said, "You BLEEP have!"
0:22:32 > 0:22:34"You took it out my pocket."
0:22:34 > 0:22:37She carried on and I said, "I'll get the police."
0:22:37 > 0:22:39She said, "Well, get the BLEEP police, then!"
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Though she protested her innocence, it's hardly surprising that
0:22:42 > 0:22:47when the police were mentioned, Janine made a run for it.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Derek obviously not in a position to chase anybody,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54so he did the right thing by phoning the police on the 999 system
0:22:54 > 0:22:59and we attended promptly and within the space of ten minutes
0:22:59 > 0:23:02of that call arriving, this girl was arrested.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06We then put her in an ID parade,
0:23:06 > 0:23:11but unfortunately, like in a lot of these cases, she wasn't picked out.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Undeterred, the police launched an investigation.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Eventually, it was the cup of water that Janine used to distract Derek
0:23:19 > 0:23:21which led to her downfall.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23We forensically preserved that cup
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and sent it away for forensic analysis.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30The cup came back and it was good news for us,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34because it came back with this girl's DNA all over the cup.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37This time, the evidence was unquestionable,
0:23:37 > 0:23:38so Janine was re-arrested
0:23:38 > 0:23:41and charged with the offence of burglary.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Police discovered that Derek wasn't the only one to have suffered
0:23:44 > 0:23:47at the hands of this doorstep deceiver and, in fact,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50was fortunate, in comparison to Janine's other victims.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Between them, they had lost a total of £3,100,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57plus a bank card and a mobile phone.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03The card and phone were never recovered, but £2,600 was reclaimed.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04There were several victims in this case
0:24:04 > 0:24:07and some not as robust as Derek, really.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08He was willing to come to court
0:24:08 > 0:24:12and assist the police as much as he could and although all the victims
0:24:12 > 0:24:16were happy to assist, there were quite a lot of victims at an age they didn't want to come to court.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19They're intimidated, they're vulnerable,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and a lot of the victims feel a bit embarrassed.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25They feel that they've embarrassed themselves or their family
0:24:25 > 0:24:29by being tricked into letting these people into the house.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Some people, unfortunately, and thankfully it's in the minority, are never the same again.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38At Doncaster Crown Court, on December 6, 2011,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41this young burglar was sentenced to 39 months in prison,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45much to the delight of Derek and the police.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48I'm quite pleased that this individual now won't be able
0:24:48 > 0:24:50to trick anyone else into giving her a glass of water
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and she'll be able to drink as much water as she can in prison.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59Understandably, Derek has no sympathy for Janine and her like.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Steve Whittaker is keen to emphasize that the blame for these burglaries
0:25:02 > 0:25:05does not lie with the victims.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07I know this was terrible when it happened
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- but how do you feel after this? - I felt a bit silly.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Most people, who are victims of this terrible, terrible crime
0:25:13 > 0:25:15feel that it's all their fault.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16It's not anybody's fault.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20The only person at fault is the person who committed the crime.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22It's those who are to blame, not yourself.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Good advice. It's worth remembering that the sooner we call for help in situations like this,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30the sooner the authorities can come to our assistance.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33One thing's for sure, Derek certainly will not tolerate anyone
0:25:33 > 0:25:36cold calling at his house again.
0:25:36 > 0:25:43If anybody comes to my door before six o'clock, I don't answer it.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47I don't answer my door at all. It's always locked.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52If I go out, I lock it, come back in, lock it and put the chain on,
0:25:52 > 0:25:57that's it for the night. I will not open that door now.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Fantastic job and what a terrific result.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Now, before we go, I've got enough time to read you this e-mail,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09which has come from Mavis Wisby, who lives in North Wales.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12It's rather sweet actually, because she says, it's really annoying
0:26:12 > 0:26:17when a particular man keeps trying to sell her cleaning products at the doorstep.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20She says she can't understand why he's so persistent,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23because "as he can see, my door knocker is always spotless".
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Now, her daughter has told him to go away several times
0:26:26 > 0:26:28and it seems to have put him off.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33So, I suppose the moral is, it's always worthwhile asking family and friends to help.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Thank you, Mavis, and don't forget - keep that door knocker clean!
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Now, the purpose of this programme is to fight back
0:26:39 > 0:26:45against doorstep criminals and we'd love to hear more about how you've managed to catch them out.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Our details are on the website, so I do hope that you'll get in touch.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I hope you'll join me again next time.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Until then, thanks for your company and from us, bye-bye.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd