Caravan Crooks

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05Every minute of every day, someone somewhere is getting burgled.

0:00:08 > 0:00:09Doesn't sound good.

0:00:09 > 0:00:14With an average of 92 break-ins an hour, it's a huge problem.

0:00:19 > 0:00:24It never ceases to amaze me how much mess these burglars cause people.

0:00:24 > 0:00:26For the victims of these crimes,

0:00:26 > 0:00:30it can take months or even years to overcome the trauma.

0:00:30 > 0:00:34He was in my house, and he shouldn't have been.

0:00:34 > 0:00:36- It's emotional, isn't it? - It is emotional, yes.

0:00:36 > 0:00:38I'm having a lot of palpitations today.

0:00:38 > 0:00:41It's just...it's heartbreaking.

0:00:41 > 0:00:44But in this series, we're fighting back against the burglars...

0:00:44 > 0:00:46Police forcing entry!

0:00:46 > 0:00:49..helping you to beef up your security...

0:00:49 > 0:00:51Here we go.

0:00:51 > 0:00:53..while the police catch the criminals.

0:00:54 > 0:00:58We can be safe. Thank you.

0:00:58 > 0:01:03This is Break-In Britain The Crackdown.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09- Welcome to the programme. - Hello there. Now, caravans.

0:01:09 > 0:01:12If you've ever been stuck behind one on a long, windy journey,

0:01:12 > 0:01:15you might not be the biggest fan, but for thousands of us,

0:01:15 > 0:01:18they're a brilliant way to explore the countryside.

0:01:18 > 0:01:21Sadly, though, they're not immune to burglaries.

0:01:21 > 0:01:24And today, I'm meeting a woman who was left heartbroken

0:01:24 > 0:01:29when her caravan was ransacked by particularly greedy thieves.

0:01:29 > 0:01:32It looks like the offenders have actually managed to find

0:01:32 > 0:01:35this box of cakes in one of these cupboards

0:01:35 > 0:01:37and actually helped themselves.

0:01:37 > 0:01:39I felt like crying, because I was angry,

0:01:39 > 0:01:42not because they had taken stuff. The stuff can be replaced.

0:01:42 > 0:01:45I'm going to help a family from Leeds sort out their home security

0:01:45 > 0:01:50in a pet-friendly way after their conservatory was smashed open.

0:01:50 > 0:01:53It's horrible knowing that somebody has been in there.

0:01:53 > 0:01:57It's frustrating that somebody has had the nerve to come in.

0:01:57 > 0:02:00And this is our home, this is where we bring the children up.

0:02:03 > 0:02:08South Wales Police cover an area of more than 770 square miles

0:02:08 > 0:02:12and investigate around 70 domestic burglaries every week.

0:02:12 > 0:02:15A call has just come into their headquarters.

0:02:34 > 0:02:37The burgled caravan belongs to 53-year-old housewife Deborah.

0:02:37 > 0:02:39Her father discovered the break-in

0:02:39 > 0:02:42and has alerted the police to the scene.

0:02:42 > 0:02:46It's being stored on a farm on the outskirts of Neath near Swansea

0:02:46 > 0:02:49where some caravans are kept during the winter months.

0:02:51 > 0:02:53This is like an extension of my home.

0:02:53 > 0:02:57Let me just talk you through some of the property that was stolen.

0:02:57 > 0:03:02The toaster. Hair straighteners. A television.

0:03:02 > 0:03:04It's estimated that

0:03:04 > 0:03:07more than a million of us own caravans in the UK.

0:03:07 > 0:03:10I'm hoping PC Katherine O'Brian can tell us

0:03:10 > 0:03:12what has happened to this one.

0:03:12 > 0:03:15There have been a number of break-ins to caravans

0:03:15 > 0:03:17in this site on the weekend.

0:03:17 > 0:03:21The important thing is that we get Crime Scene Investigation

0:03:21 > 0:03:24up here to dab for any fingerprints in the caravan. We're hopeful

0:03:24 > 0:03:27that we'll have some really good forensics that we can work with.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29Does this sort of thing happen quite often?

0:03:29 > 0:03:32We have had a spate of it over the weekends.

0:03:32 > 0:03:35But the lady did tell me that she's had a caravan here for five years

0:03:35 > 0:03:39and this is only the first incident of its kind for herself.

0:03:39 > 0:03:41She feels that she has been personally violated

0:03:41 > 0:03:44by them going into her caravan, an extension of her home,

0:03:44 > 0:03:46and actually targeting her caravan.

0:03:49 > 0:03:52This field is just three miles from Deborah's house.

0:03:52 > 0:03:54The investigation has gone on into the night

0:03:54 > 0:03:57and I want to find out how Deborah is feeling now.

0:04:00 > 0:04:02Hello. I'm Dan.

0:04:02 > 0:04:04So what's happened?

0:04:04 > 0:04:09My father came this morning and found that it was actually open.

0:04:09 > 0:04:11Somebody had been in there

0:04:11 > 0:04:16and basically taken everything that they felt they could get money for.

0:04:16 > 0:04:18And ransacked it in the process.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21What had they been looking for?

0:04:21 > 0:04:24Stupid, trivial things that don't cost a lot of money.

0:04:25 > 0:04:30And it's actually annoying to think that they could invade my space.

0:04:30 > 0:04:33Deborah's holiday snaps showed the fun times

0:04:33 > 0:04:37she has shared with her three grandchildren in the caravan.

0:04:37 > 0:04:40The mobile home has been a vital part of their family get-togethers.

0:04:41 > 0:04:43It's just a mess in there.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46That has been almost completely snapped on the bottom

0:04:46 > 0:04:49and they've just pulled it out to see what was underneath.

0:04:49 > 0:04:51- How are you feeling?- I feel angry.

0:04:51 > 0:04:53I felt like crying, because I was angry,

0:04:53 > 0:04:54not because they had taken stuff.

0:04:54 > 0:05:01The stuff can be replaced. It was my...well, my space.

0:05:01 > 0:05:07I'm just baffled as to how you would secure this any better.

0:05:09 > 0:05:11There is nothing really.

0:05:11 > 0:05:14To be honest with you, I blame myself for putting stuff in there,

0:05:14 > 0:05:16because we were going away.

0:05:16 > 0:05:19You can't blame yourself, you've got 20-odd years of owning a caravan.

0:05:19 > 0:05:21- This never happened before. - Never happened.

0:05:23 > 0:05:26It's clear that, for victims like Deborah,

0:05:26 > 0:05:27it's less about the material things

0:05:27 > 0:05:30and more about the invasion of privacy.

0:05:35 > 0:05:37It's the day after the burglary

0:05:37 > 0:05:41and Crime Scene Investigation Officer Dan Poeton has arrived

0:05:41 > 0:05:44to look for any potential evidence to help catch this culprit.

0:05:46 > 0:05:49The door was actually intact when I got here.

0:05:49 > 0:05:53But we noticed that the top of the door was actually slightly ajar.

0:05:53 > 0:05:57There's no actual tool marks on it at all, which is what we often find.

0:05:57 > 0:06:02What it looks like they've done is managed to claw this back

0:06:02 > 0:06:06and then, some sort of implement, they've slid down

0:06:06 > 0:06:07and then, you can see here,

0:06:07 > 0:06:10it's just a very basic plastic lock

0:06:10 > 0:06:12so it wouldn't take much to pop that open.

0:06:12 > 0:06:14Then, inside,

0:06:14 > 0:06:18you can see they've opened all of the cupboards.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21It's an untidy search basically.

0:06:21 > 0:06:24I've gone round with the brush

0:06:24 > 0:06:28looking for fingerprints on the actual cupboards.

0:06:28 > 0:06:30What's more than likely happened, though,

0:06:30 > 0:06:33is they just simply touched the handles,

0:06:33 > 0:06:35which, as you can see, a very thin handle there,

0:06:35 > 0:06:39which doesn't give us any sort of scope for getting fingerprints off.

0:06:39 > 0:06:44The only thing of significance that I can utilise here

0:06:44 > 0:06:45is the Mr Kipling box,

0:06:45 > 0:06:49cos it looks like the offenders have actually managed to find

0:06:49 > 0:06:53this box of cakes in one of these cupboards

0:06:53 > 0:06:55and actually helped themselves to a couple of cakes.

0:06:55 > 0:06:58I can't believe the cheek of this thief -

0:06:58 > 0:07:01eating Deborah's food while he's pilfering.

0:07:01 > 0:07:03Talk about having your cake and eating it!

0:07:06 > 0:07:08And as the packaging heads off to the lab,

0:07:08 > 0:07:10I wonder how Deborah's feeling now.

0:07:12 > 0:07:13How did you sleep last night?

0:07:13 > 0:07:15Not very well. I kept waking up.

0:07:15 > 0:07:18If I'm asleep in there, and somebody can get in that easy,

0:07:18 > 0:07:21they can take anything they want, even my life.

0:07:21 > 0:07:25Well, let's get that out of your mind anyway.

0:07:25 > 0:07:27We can get our experts round,

0:07:27 > 0:07:30see if there is something we can do

0:07:30 > 0:07:33to get the security beefed up on the caravan.

0:07:33 > 0:07:36- Stop you feeling like that. - Yeah. Have a look.

0:07:41 > 0:07:44I sort of knew a caravan wouldn't be as secure as a home,

0:07:44 > 0:07:48but I was surprised at just how flimsy Deborah's locks were.

0:07:48 > 0:07:51I want to find out what, if anything, can be done about it.

0:07:54 > 0:07:57Crime reduction officer Kevin Evans is giving me

0:07:57 > 0:07:59a security tour of this mobile home.

0:08:02 > 0:08:03Obviously, this has been targeted,

0:08:03 > 0:08:07because they could probably see the property through the windows,

0:08:07 > 0:08:12because I can see through there now some property visible quite clearly.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15My advice would be to empty your caravan during the winter months,

0:08:15 > 0:08:17of everything.

0:08:17 > 0:08:22And possibly consider putting a sign up - this caravan has been emptied.

0:08:22 > 0:08:24So, therefore, it's giving the message out

0:08:24 > 0:08:27to your potential criminal that there is nothing in there.

0:08:27 > 0:08:29This is basically a holiday home,

0:08:29 > 0:08:31but you shouldn't treat it like a home.

0:08:31 > 0:08:34It's not a home. This isn't bricks and mortar.

0:08:34 > 0:08:38It's just something you can enjoy during the year with your family

0:08:38 > 0:08:41and it's a wonderful holiday. But it's not your home.

0:08:41 > 0:08:44- It's not as secure.- I'll go and show you where they got in.

0:08:49 > 0:08:51- You can see there.- Good grief, yeah.

0:08:51 > 0:08:56As we can see here, the caravan, predominately, this is plastic,

0:08:56 > 0:08:59plastic lock as well.

0:08:59 > 0:09:02That is all you've got holding this actual door

0:09:02 > 0:09:03is that little piece there

0:09:03 > 0:09:08fitting into a very, very small, what we call receiver.

0:09:08 > 0:09:10And, obviously, it's quite easily forced.

0:09:10 > 0:09:13To me, the locks are Toytown.

0:09:13 > 0:09:16It's nowhere near a front door lock

0:09:16 > 0:09:20- and it's not even anywhere near a car door lock.- No, it isn't.

0:09:20 > 0:09:23Probably a car door lock is far more secure than this.

0:09:23 > 0:09:26But, to be fair to the caravan owner,

0:09:26 > 0:09:30as you can see here embossed into the window,

0:09:30 > 0:09:34it's security marked and electronically protected.

0:09:34 > 0:09:38So, if we're talking about the theft of the caravan,

0:09:38 > 0:09:44that's not as appealing to me, because how am I going to sell this

0:09:44 > 0:09:47with these index numbers? How am I going to get rid of it?

0:09:47 > 0:09:49People aren't going to wish to purchase that from me

0:09:49 > 0:09:51if they know it's stolen.

0:09:51 > 0:09:54But in terms of it actually getting broken into,

0:09:54 > 0:09:57- it's inherently weak, isn't it? - It's a caravan.

0:10:01 > 0:10:02I hardly dare to ask this,

0:10:02 > 0:10:07but, overall, what would be your security rating out of ten for this?

0:10:07 > 0:10:10One or two, maybe, maximum.

0:10:10 > 0:10:13That's being honest.

0:10:13 > 0:10:15I cannot give it a higher figure.

0:10:15 > 0:10:17Oh, dear. Not sounding good.

0:10:17 > 0:10:21I'm guessing there's not a lot we can do to turn this into Fort Knox.

0:10:21 > 0:10:23What can be done?

0:10:23 > 0:10:26Very, very difficult to fully secure the caravan here.

0:10:26 > 0:10:28Um...

0:10:28 > 0:10:32Potentially, put an alarm inside the vehicle. That would help.

0:10:32 > 0:10:36And putting a sign in the window as we spoke earlier on.

0:10:36 > 0:10:38I'd certainly consider that.

0:10:38 > 0:10:40Even if we put in all of your recommendations,

0:10:40 > 0:10:42what would the security score be?

0:10:42 > 0:10:44We'll go to three and a half possibly.

0:10:44 > 0:10:47I can't see anything better than that, to be honest with you.

0:10:47 > 0:10:51- It's still realistic.- We've got to be realistic, we've got to be honest.

0:10:51 > 0:10:54Certainly, we're honest in this context.

0:10:54 > 0:10:58A caravan is very, very difficult to protect,

0:10:58 > 0:11:01simply from entry through the doorway, very, very difficult.

0:11:02 > 0:11:06We need to do everything we can for Deborah to make her caravan safer

0:11:06 > 0:11:08and put her mind at ease.

0:11:08 > 0:11:11I'm going to sort this one out as quickly as I can.

0:11:13 > 0:11:16Over in Leeds, the West Yorkshire Police control room is taking

0:11:16 > 0:11:17an emergency call.

0:11:33 > 0:11:36Landlords Steve and Pauline have been managing busy Leeds pubs

0:11:36 > 0:11:38for the last 20 years

0:11:38 > 0:11:41and are a big part of the community.

0:11:41 > 0:11:42But whilst hard at work,

0:11:42 > 0:11:45they received a phone call from a neighbour

0:11:45 > 0:11:48alerting them to a smashed window in their home.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51The couple rushed back to find their brand-new conservatory

0:11:51 > 0:11:53had been broken into.

0:11:53 > 0:11:56Steve and Pauline are giving a statement to the police

0:11:56 > 0:11:59while PC Gabby Keeley fills me in on the details.

0:11:59 > 0:12:02- There's a real mess. - There is, yes.

0:12:02 > 0:12:04- Two doors have been smashed.- Yes.

0:12:04 > 0:12:08What do you think he's used to get through there?

0:12:08 > 0:12:12- It must have been pretty... - A bit of metal, a rock.

0:12:12 > 0:12:14I'm having a look round... as soon as I got here,

0:12:14 > 0:12:18there's nothing left immediately at the scene or inside that I can see.

0:12:18 > 0:12:21They could have brought something and taken it with them.

0:12:21 > 0:12:25This lovely home has been turned upside down

0:12:25 > 0:12:27and it's devastating to see.

0:12:27 > 0:12:30Steve and Pauline have lived here for seven-and-a-half years

0:12:30 > 0:12:34and have two children and two family pets.

0:12:34 > 0:12:37What was it like when you first came home?

0:12:37 > 0:12:40It's horrible knowing that somebody has been in there.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43It's frustrating that somebody has had the nerve to come in.

0:12:43 > 0:12:47This is our home, this is where we bring the children up.

0:12:47 > 0:12:49Luckily, there's...

0:12:49 > 0:12:52All of the damage...they've been into every single room, under the beds,

0:12:52 > 0:12:54everywhere, into all the drawers.

0:12:54 > 0:12:58It looks like the only thing that is missing is the personal laptop.

0:12:58 > 0:13:01Not much may have been taken, but to add insult to injury,

0:13:01 > 0:13:04the windows and door on the conservatory were brand-new.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07They were only installed a week ago.

0:13:07 > 0:13:10Every single window and door got replaced.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13That's another job to do now.

0:13:13 > 0:13:15I heard you say to the police officer

0:13:15 > 0:13:17that you got the top-of-the-range locks on the door.

0:13:17 > 0:13:19That's what we thought.

0:13:19 > 0:13:22We basically said to the window guys, "Do we need to have these replaced?"

0:13:22 > 0:13:25"No, no, they won't come through these doors." Which they haven't.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28They've come through the window, not through the locks.

0:13:28 > 0:13:30- You must be miffed about that.- Hmm.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38The officer has taken a statement off Steven.

0:13:38 > 0:13:41The family are clearly shaken up by what has happened today.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44And now the police are speaking to neighbours.

0:13:44 > 0:13:47Somebody must have heard a massive pane of glass smash.

0:13:47 > 0:13:49Hello, sir.

0:13:49 > 0:13:52We're just conducting some door-to-door enquiries.

0:13:52 > 0:13:55It happened during the daytime, so we're going round the houses

0:13:55 > 0:13:57to see who was in during the time that the break-in happened

0:13:57 > 0:13:59and if they've seen or heard anything.

0:13:59 > 0:14:01While the officers get on with the investigation,

0:14:01 > 0:14:04I want to do my bit to help Steve and Pauline.

0:14:07 > 0:14:09I can see that you are both, not only angry,

0:14:09 > 0:14:12but upset that someone has been in here.

0:14:12 > 0:14:13What I would like to do for you

0:14:13 > 0:14:16is get our security expert to come round and have a look at things

0:14:16 > 0:14:18and fix things for you,

0:14:18 > 0:14:20and also add anything

0:14:20 > 0:14:23that he thinks might help you to feel safer and more secure.

0:14:23 > 0:14:25That's what we'd like to do for you,

0:14:25 > 0:14:27to make you feel a bit more at home in your own home again.

0:14:27 > 0:14:30- How do you feel about that? - That would be great.- Yeah?- Yeah.

0:14:30 > 0:14:34Right, I'll get on the phone to him and get it sorted ASAP.

0:14:34 > 0:14:37He can have a good look round and see what would make you feel better.

0:14:37 > 0:14:40- That'd be great.- Thank you.

0:14:40 > 0:14:43Just 8% of burglars force their way in

0:14:43 > 0:14:45by breaking or cutting glass in a window.

0:14:47 > 0:14:50I've asked crime reduction officer Richard Fulton

0:14:50 > 0:14:55for his professional opinion on how secure the rest of the property is.

0:14:55 > 0:14:58This is where the burglar broke in.

0:14:58 > 0:15:01Obviously, they've still got the glass to be reglazed.

0:15:01 > 0:15:04What do you think of this part of the property?

0:15:04 > 0:15:07Standard sort of conservatory.

0:15:07 > 0:15:11There are a number of issues with this particular type of construction.

0:15:11 > 0:15:14I would be recommending at this point

0:15:14 > 0:15:16to upgrade to laminate glass

0:15:16 > 0:15:22which has got a plastic film within the actual make-up of the glass

0:15:22 > 0:15:25so that's a lot stronger.

0:15:25 > 0:15:26Richard is also concerned

0:15:26 > 0:15:30about a potential entry point for unwanted visitors.

0:15:30 > 0:15:33We've got a fairly easy point of entry to this garden

0:15:33 > 0:15:35from this particular side.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38It's on the road side, so it's fairly easy to pop in and out.

0:15:38 > 0:15:40There's a little bit of fencing at that side,

0:15:40 > 0:15:42but it is very easy to breach.

0:15:42 > 0:15:45It'd be quite easy for them to hop over and just climb down the steps.

0:15:45 > 0:15:49It's just easy to hop over and, obviously, then you're in.

0:15:49 > 0:15:52After giving the rest of the house the once-over,

0:15:52 > 0:15:54it's number crunching time for Richard.

0:15:57 > 0:16:01Out of ten, what mark would you give this property for its security?

0:16:01 > 0:16:05As it stands at the moment, I'm going to be really mean with this one.

0:16:05 > 0:16:06I'm going to give it a six.

0:16:06 > 0:16:08There's a few issues that I'm not happy with,

0:16:08 > 0:16:13which we can quite easily overcome and make it a lot more secure.

0:16:13 > 0:16:17- Plenty to do to improve the security?- Yes.

0:16:17 > 0:16:19With lots to be getting on with,

0:16:19 > 0:16:23it's time to break the news to Steve, Pauline and Annabel the dog.

0:16:23 > 0:16:27I've had Richard round, he's looked round the property,

0:16:27 > 0:16:30at the locks, the shed and the fact you haven't got an alarm.

0:16:30 > 0:16:32He's only given you six out of ten.

0:16:32 > 0:16:33What do you make of that?

0:16:33 > 0:16:35It's mediocre, room for improvement.

0:16:35 > 0:16:37Just mediocre.

0:16:37 > 0:16:40We'll be back later to see if we can push that score up

0:16:40 > 0:16:42with some simple improvements.

0:16:46 > 0:16:48Earlier in Neath, South Wales,

0:16:48 > 0:16:50I met Deborah, who was left distressed

0:16:50 > 0:16:53after discovering her beloved caravan had been broken into.

0:16:53 > 0:16:57If I'm asleep in there, if somebody can get in that easily,

0:16:57 > 0:17:00they can take anything they want, even my life.

0:17:00 > 0:17:04This greedy thief had an attack of the munchies during the break-in

0:17:04 > 0:17:08and devoured a few of Deborah's Viennese Whirls.

0:17:08 > 0:17:10But the packaging left behind

0:17:10 > 0:17:12was taken away by the crime scene investigators

0:17:12 > 0:17:15and is now in the hands of the forensic lab.

0:17:17 > 0:17:20Criminals are known to consume food and drink

0:17:20 > 0:17:23during the course of committing a burglary.

0:17:23 > 0:17:27Sometimes they will drink alcohol and leave a forensic trace then,

0:17:27 > 0:17:28because of the saliva aspect.

0:17:28 > 0:17:32Sometimes they will actually cook food.

0:17:32 > 0:17:36But, unwittingly, they have given us a line of inquiry when they do that.

0:17:37 > 0:17:41The police use various methods to try and lift prints from evidence.

0:17:41 > 0:17:42In this particular case,

0:17:42 > 0:17:46one of the things they are doing is spreading a black magnetic powder

0:17:46 > 0:17:49to illuminate any prints left on the packaging.

0:17:50 > 0:17:52That is a fingerprint.

0:17:52 > 0:17:54This area here, although it's very poor quality,

0:17:54 > 0:17:56does appear to be a finger mark.

0:17:56 > 0:17:57So I'll capture that

0:17:57 > 0:18:00and see whether it's of any use to the Fingerprint Bureau.

0:18:00 > 0:18:02A print may have been found,

0:18:02 > 0:18:04but it's not good news.

0:18:04 > 0:18:06Unfortunately, on this occasion,

0:18:06 > 0:18:10we didn't get a positive forensic hit on that.

0:18:10 > 0:18:14Very often, there are a number of reasons why we don't get a hit.

0:18:14 > 0:18:18That could be down to the criminal being forensically aware,

0:18:18 > 0:18:22the texture and make-up of the item that's being submitted.

0:18:22 > 0:18:25But that doesn't say that the case is closed,

0:18:25 > 0:18:28because there are always other lines of inquiry.

0:18:28 > 0:18:30That is frustrating to hear,

0:18:30 > 0:18:33but hopefully this cake crook will still be caught.

0:18:33 > 0:18:37So the security assessment on Deborah's caravan wasn't promising.

0:18:37 > 0:18:40But I've got Tony down here to see what he can do.

0:18:42 > 0:18:45Tony is already hard at it installing a PIR alarm.

0:18:45 > 0:18:48That's a motion sensor alarm to me and you.

0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Hi, Tone.- What's happening, how are you?- Good.

0:18:52 > 0:18:55So a cold day in a caravan lock-up in the Valleys -

0:18:55 > 0:18:58I told you telly would be glamorous.

0:18:58 > 0:19:01Yeah. It's all it's cracked up to be.

0:19:01 > 0:19:03What have you got for us?

0:19:03 > 0:19:06I'm installing a PIR sensor here.

0:19:06 > 0:19:07It's got a SIM card in here

0:19:07 > 0:19:10that enables it to phone a mobile recipient.

0:19:10 > 0:19:12Whenever this is triggered,

0:19:12 > 0:19:15it will then call whatever number you programme in

0:19:15 > 0:19:19and let them know that the alarm has gone off in the caravan.

0:19:19 > 0:19:22So any intruders who come in from now on,

0:19:22 > 0:19:26Deborah is going to know, because she will get a phone call.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28She'll get a phone call. There's also a siren on it as well.

0:19:28 > 0:19:31Brilliant, I'll let you get on with it. Cheers.

0:19:33 > 0:19:37This alarm sounds a cracking idea. Just what Deborah needs.

0:19:37 > 0:19:38Nice one, Tony.

0:19:38 > 0:19:41While Tony is getting on with that, I'll make some of my own

0:19:41 > 0:19:43door-to-door enquiries with the locals.

0:19:43 > 0:19:46Seen anyone suspicious round here the other night?

0:19:48 > 0:19:50All right, then.

0:19:50 > 0:19:51Didn't see anything.

0:19:51 > 0:19:53Lot of long faces when I asked.

0:19:56 > 0:19:59That's enough horseplay from you, Dan.

0:19:59 > 0:20:00Back to business in Leeds.

0:20:00 > 0:20:04Steve and Pauline are hard at work in the pub they run.

0:20:05 > 0:20:10I've called in legendary security fixer Neil to make their home safer

0:20:10 > 0:20:13following a break-in through their conservatory.

0:20:13 > 0:20:16Our security assessor was concerned about the gap in the back fence

0:20:16 > 0:20:19where wannabe burglars could easily get in.

0:20:19 > 0:20:22But Neil has a prickly solution.

0:20:22 > 0:20:23It's what they call Prick A Strip.

0:20:23 > 0:20:26It's the only legal thing you can put on top of fencing.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29You know what my question's going to be - are these animal proof?

0:20:29 > 0:20:33I'm worried about cats getting their paws and claws caught on that.

0:20:33 > 0:20:36When I've put them on, ten minutes later, I've seen a cat walk along it.

0:20:36 > 0:20:40So cheap, effective and pretty easy to fit.

0:20:40 > 0:20:43- Easy enough for me to fit? - Yes, yes. Of course it is, yeah.

0:20:47 > 0:20:49At night-time, you're not go to see this.

0:20:49 > 0:20:52If they try and come over it, it is going to shock them.

0:20:54 > 0:20:56Sheds can be a burglar's treasure trove.

0:20:56 > 0:20:57Not only for things to steal,

0:20:57 > 0:21:01but also for equipment to use to help them break into the house.

0:21:02 > 0:21:06So Neil is securing this shed with a special bar and new fixings,

0:21:06 > 0:21:09making it more difficult to get into.

0:21:09 > 0:21:12And inside the house, Neil has some great gadgets

0:21:12 > 0:21:15to help Steve and Pauline feel more secure in their home.

0:21:15 > 0:21:19- There's clearly still some security issues here.- Like the glass missing.

0:21:19 > 0:21:21That will get replaced.

0:21:21 > 0:21:25- But you're concerned about the locks and the handles.- Yes, that's right.

0:21:25 > 0:21:26What we've got is a padlock.

0:21:26 > 0:21:30It's specially designed to go over handles and lock the handles down.

0:21:30 > 0:21:33Is that why people wind stuff round it like shoelaces?

0:21:33 > 0:21:36Yes, I go to a lot of properties where they have put a belt round,

0:21:36 > 0:21:38or just tied it with a piece of rope.

0:21:38 > 0:21:40That's not making any security difference at all.

0:21:40 > 0:21:44Because all the burglars will do is take the handles off from the outside

0:21:44 > 0:21:45and they can gain entry that way.

0:21:45 > 0:21:48The only thing it's doing is, potentially, it's a fire hazard.

0:21:48 > 0:21:51But this one, all it does is clamp over the top of the handles.

0:21:51 > 0:21:55There's no locks involved, because it works on a ratchet.

0:21:55 > 0:21:58- And that's it, all locked. - That's completely secure.

0:21:58 > 0:22:02To take it off, you just press both of them at the same time

0:22:02 > 0:22:03and pull it out.

0:22:05 > 0:22:09- And that's a good visual deterrent from outside.- Yes.

0:22:09 > 0:22:13These French door security locks can be picked up for around £15 -

0:22:13 > 0:22:14money well spent.

0:22:14 > 0:22:19- And they could double as walkie-talkies.- OK, then.

0:22:21 > 0:22:23- Have you got tea?- More tea. More tea.

0:22:25 > 0:22:28Obviously, it's been recommended that Steve and Pauline get an alarm.

0:22:28 > 0:22:30But when you've got furry friends,

0:22:30 > 0:22:33it can be a bit difficult, because they can set the sensors off.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35We'll have to see what Neil's got to say.

0:22:36 > 0:22:40There's quite a few alarms out there that are animal proof.

0:22:40 > 0:22:43What you need to be looking for is having window and door contacts.

0:22:43 > 0:22:45Because if you put PIRs up,

0:22:45 > 0:22:47although most of them are pet friendly,

0:22:47 > 0:22:49unfortunately, cats will tend to set them off,

0:22:49 > 0:22:51because they climb all over the place.

0:22:51 > 0:22:55Because they're set at human height and, if a cat climbs,

0:22:55 > 0:22:57- they're going to set them off. - Yes, it will set them off.

0:22:57 > 0:22:59You can put contacts in. That is a room contact.

0:22:59 > 0:23:02You can see it's flashing, so it's actually picking us up.

0:23:02 > 0:23:06But the contacts we're going to put on here are magnetic contacts.

0:23:06 > 0:23:10- So if the door or window is opened, they go off.- That's right.

0:23:10 > 0:23:13I'm going to cover all access points downstairs.

0:23:13 > 0:23:16We're still going to put a PIR, room sensor, in the conservatory.

0:23:16 > 0:23:19Because they're going to section off the conservatory,

0:23:19 > 0:23:22- the animals aren't going to go in there.- Yes.

0:23:22 > 0:23:24They are the best ones to fit, because it picks up any movement.

0:23:24 > 0:23:30Steve and Pauline thought they had super-duper locks on their new conservatory.

0:23:30 > 0:23:34Security assessment showed that they were just the basic ones.

0:23:34 > 0:23:37Steven and Pauline have only had this conservatory for a few weeks.

0:23:37 > 0:23:40It's brand-new and, when they bought it,

0:23:40 > 0:23:43the salesman told them that these locks were top of the range.

0:23:43 > 0:23:47Well, I can, just by looking at it, not doing any investigation,

0:23:47 > 0:23:49- that is just a very basic lock. - This must aggravate you.

0:23:49 > 0:23:52The bane of my life for nearly eight years now,

0:23:52 > 0:23:55trying to combat this type of problem.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58What is the difference in price

0:23:58 > 0:24:01between one of these and the decent locks?

0:24:01 > 0:24:05The cylinder in there, er, you'll pick up £8-£10.

0:24:05 > 0:24:08But the high security T S007 3-Star,

0:24:08 > 0:24:11you're looking at between £45 and £65.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14So this is the kind of lock that people should be looking for?

0:24:14 > 0:24:19- It is, yeah.- Crucially, it's got the three stars in the front.

0:24:19 > 0:24:22- That's what you should be looking at. - And the British Kitemark.

0:24:22 > 0:24:25The British Kitemark with three stars

0:24:25 > 0:24:27and that means it's passed the snapping test.

0:24:29 > 0:24:32You can bin that. Put one of these good ones in.

0:24:32 > 0:24:36We're really making sure the house is safer. Lock, stock and barrel.

0:24:39 > 0:24:43I think Neil has done a fantastic job of the security upgrade,

0:24:43 > 0:24:46but there's someone else we need to impress

0:24:46 > 0:24:48and that is Richard from the police.

0:24:48 > 0:24:51- What do you think now?- Much improved, really happy with that.

0:24:51 > 0:24:54The locks have been changed, the alarm system is in,

0:24:54 > 0:24:56there's a couple of extra bits.

0:24:56 > 0:24:59The shed has been improved in security.

0:24:59 > 0:25:03- So you're going to be more generous now when I ask you to give it a mark out of ten, aren't you?- Yes, I am.

0:25:03 > 0:25:07Because I'm happy and things have gone well this afternoon, we've done a really good job.

0:25:07 > 0:25:09What do you reckon? What's the magic number for this property?

0:25:09 > 0:25:13- The magic number - you can never get a ten...- No, so you've told me.

0:25:13 > 0:25:16So I've told you. I think an eight and a half would be really good.

0:25:16 > 0:25:18And that's a pretty good score,

0:25:18 > 0:25:20- we're happy with it being nearer to ten.- That's right.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23Let's hope the occupants are really happy with that.

0:25:23 > 0:25:25I'm sure they will be.

0:25:25 > 0:25:30He drives a hard bargain, but eight and a half is a really good score.

0:25:30 > 0:25:32I can't wait to tell Steve and Pauline

0:25:32 > 0:25:33and, after a hard day's graft,

0:25:33 > 0:25:36what better place to do it than in the pub?

0:25:38 > 0:25:39We've had Richard back

0:25:39 > 0:25:42and he's given it an eight and a half out of ten now.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Does that make you feel happier? - That's a lot better.

0:25:45 > 0:25:48I'd like to know what the one and a half was for.

0:25:48 > 0:25:50He's very strict with his gradings!

0:25:50 > 0:25:52You'd have to have a moat round it

0:25:52 > 0:25:55and Alsatian dogs roaming round the perimeter to get a ten, I think!

0:25:55 > 0:25:58Hopefully now, you'll feel safe, both at home

0:25:58 > 0:26:01and when you're at work and you leave your home as well.

0:26:01 > 0:26:03Thank you.

0:26:03 > 0:26:07Great work, Keeley. A pint of bitter for me, by the way.

0:26:07 > 0:26:11I'm in Neath in South Wales and about to show Deborah

0:26:11 > 0:26:14the improvements we've made to her precious caravan.

0:26:14 > 0:26:18Deborah, I thought there was going to be nothing that would make this caravan any more secure.

0:26:18 > 0:26:20But we have found you a little gadget.

0:26:20 > 0:26:25It's an alarm and, whenever there is an intruder in there,

0:26:25 > 0:26:27you'll get a phone call to your mobile phone.

0:26:29 > 0:26:30Let's give it a go.

0:26:38 > 0:26:41- ALARM BLARES - Right...

0:26:44 > 0:26:47- That's loud, isn't it? - The siren is going.

0:26:47 > 0:26:50I didn't want to be in there too long. You've got your mobile phone.

0:26:52 > 0:26:54MOBILE PHONE RINGS

0:26:54 > 0:26:59- "Caravan alarm."- It actually tells you that's the caravan alarm.- Yeah.

0:27:01 > 0:27:04So you would've had that when the burglar got in.

0:27:04 > 0:27:08A, they would have known that there was an alarm in there.

0:27:08 > 0:27:11And B, you would have known they were in there.

0:27:11 > 0:27:15I'm a lot happier now than I was a few days ago.

0:27:15 > 0:27:17- Good.- Thank you.

0:27:17 > 0:27:20That alarm is a great bit of kit.

0:27:20 > 0:27:23We've also given Deborah a good old-fashioned sign

0:27:23 > 0:27:25to warn any potential lowlifes

0:27:25 > 0:27:28that there is nothing worth breaking in for.

0:27:28 > 0:27:31It's so difficult to make caravans totally secure,

0:27:31 > 0:27:33but with the improvements we've made,

0:27:33 > 0:27:35I'm sure Deborah and her family

0:27:35 > 0:27:39will be free to enjoy many more happy holidays to come.

0:27:39 > 0:27:41Those thieves may have got a taste of cake,

0:27:41 > 0:27:44let's just hope they buy one from the bakery next time.

0:27:44 > 0:27:48I'm happy we were able to help Steve and Pauline make their home safer,

0:27:48 > 0:27:51for them and their furry friends. That's it for today!

0:27:51 > 0:27:54- Until next time... - Ta-ra for now.- Bye-bye.