Young Mum Burgled Break-in Britain - The Crackdown

Every minute of every day, someone, somewhere, is getting burgled.

Doesn't sound good.

With an average of 92 break-ins an hour, it's a huge problem.

It never ceases to amaze me

how much mess these burglars cause for people.

For the victims of these crimes,

it can take months or even years to overcome the trauma.

How dare they? Out of order. Out of order!

I felt sick. Somebody's been in my house.

I don't want to drive up to a building and see it trashed again.

But in this series, we're fighting back against the burglar...

Police forcing entry! Police!

..helping you to beef up your security...

-Here we go!

-..while the police catch the criminals.

-How are you feeling about things now?

-Oh, I feel loads better.

Loads better.

This is...

Hello. On today's programme, I meet a young mum left devastated

when burglars ransack her home.

I'm not going to feel comfortable in my house,

and it's going to take me a long time,

if I ever do feel comfortable in my house.

We give her home a security upgrade.

Well, I'm here to make you feel safe.

Happy with that.

And I help Bill set things straight

when thieves break in and steal the moneybox

that he was using to save 50ps for his grandchildren.

I feel violated.

Somebody's been into my house and I don't want them in here.

-It really made you angry.

-Really very angry.

More than 10,000 burglaries a year are reported in West Yorkshire.

Victims are left traumatised,

feeling like they've been personally targeted

for what's inside their home.

Well, imagine how much worse it feels

when you've lived in an area all your life

and your neighbours are friends and family.

Young mum Ashleigh has lived on the Servia estate all her life.

She juggles working at a care home and looking after her children,

Charlie, Misha and Tyler.

It's not easy to make ends meet,

but she works hard to provide for her kids.

-When did you first see it, then? Who discovered it?

-Me.

I came to bring my shopping in and I've seen it

and I thought, "Right..." I was a bit shocked.

I looked through the window, the cats were sat at the bottom of the stairs.

Then I called my friend, opened the door,

came in, gone in the kitchen and thought, "I've been burgled."

It was just all drawers open, things off the top,

you know, it was just a mess.

They've broke and climbed through there.

They've trashed my kitchen. They've gone upstairs into my bedroom.

They've thrown clothes and everything everywhere.

And they've gone out the back door, cos the key's in the door.

'The house has been turned upside down,

'but the thieves have made a mistake.

'They've left fingerprints on the TV, and CSI are here to collect them.'

Did you ever think that this would happen to you?

No, I've lived here all my life.

25, I've lived on the Servia all my life, and I know mostly everybody.

It's a fairly small tightknit community,

-then, you've always lived in?

-Yeah, we all know each other.

There's families that have been on the estate for years.

It's outrageous, isn't it?

It's someone desperate, clearly,

because you can see that I haven't got loads of money in here

or I haven't got beautiful things in here, do you know?

-Poor robbing the poor.

-Yeah.

-Not Robin Hood, is it, you know?

The burglar has ransacked the place,

stealing the kids' hand-held computers and toys.

It's left Ashleigh reconsidering their future.

I can't bring my kids in here now.

I'm not going to stay here. I am not staying in this house now.

-Are you looking to move?

-Yeah, I am. I'm not staying here.

-You've made that decision already?

-Yeah, I have.

I'm on my own with three kids, do you know what I mean?

And I've got a vulnerable child as well, my eldest,

and I'm not going to work hard and put things in my house

not to feel safe in my house, you know.

-Mm.

-I'm not going to do it.

It's quite a shock to you when you walk in and you think, "What?"

-You know?

-You can't tell what's gone.

-No, you just don't understand.

I'm quite confused.

And then when it's actually hit me, you know,

I started to get a bit upset over it all and stuff.

They've stolen the tablets off here.

They've obviously taken the laptop box off,

thinking that there might be a laptop in there.

-Yeah.

-They've rifled through papers, cos they were all together.

As Ashleigh takes stock of all that's missing,

the reality of what's happened starts to kick in.

They've obviously pulled my underwear out.

My underwear's not usually splattered all over.

So, what's gone altogether, then?

-Well, my Blu-ray's gone, the player.

-Yeah.

My children's tablets, downstairs, were on top of the cupboard.

They've gone.

They've taken all the Blu-rays, which is about £300-worth.

They were all Disney, you know, classics.

They've taken some of the LeapReaders, which are, like,

-little pens, learning activity for my children.

-The kids' toys?

Yeah, they'll be able to sell them, though.

You know, books, they've taken the books,

because I've put them up there.

They've taken them.

You wouldn't think children's books would be worth taking,

but these criminals will steal anything

small enough to put in a rucksack.

How are you feeling?

SHE SIGHS

I don't know.

You know, I'll just have to get through it

and just stay at my mum's for a bit.

-Yeah?

-You know.

-How about coming back?

I don't know, cos I'm on my own with three children, you know.

So, I feel vulnerable on a night as it is.

What we want to do for you is, you know, get our experts round

-so that they can see where the weaknesses are in the place.

-Yeah.

Get them fixed up for you so that you feel nice and safe again.

-Mm, hopefully.

-How does that feel?

-That's nice. That's nice, yeah.

That would be helpful.

Nobody deserves to be burgled.

But a working mum with three kids under ten

has life hard enough without this.

So, we're here to put things right

and make Ashleigh's home as safe as houses.

And it's all hands on deck.

Mum's doing a smashing job on the broken glass.

CSI are working their magic in Ashleigh's room.

And Jimmy from the council is on front door duty.

Here we go. Another break-in in Leeds.

It's getting quite the norm, this.

So, what I'm doing is, I'm measuring up for a board.

Nearly 80 burglaries are reported in Leeds every week

and the police work tirelessly to catch the criminals.

They've collected evidence from Ashleigh's house

and catalogued the stolen items.

If any of it turns up, it could lead them to the criminal.

But for tonight, that's no consolation for Ashleigh.

I'm not going to feel comfortable in my house,

and it's going to take me a long time,

if I ever do feel comfortable in my house.

So, Ashleigh's gone to her mum's tonight with the kids.

The way she's feeling at the moment, she doesn't want to come home at all.

I want to come back tomorrow to get her security sorted out

so we can change that.

The next day, crime reduction officer Nick Whitcombe arrives

to assess the security.

He's seen hundreds of break-ins

and there's no better person to give his expert opinion

on how Ashleigh's security can be improved.

-So, Nick, round the back. What have you found so far?

-It's a small site.

It's about as inner-city as you're going to get.

It wasn't built with crime in mind.

No surveillance, there's no passers-by

who are going to walk up and down here and see anybody.

There's no lighting on the house to put anybody off.

It's a bit of a burglar's paradise, really, round the back here.

Escape routes, hiding places.

Inner-city locations are more vulnerable to burglaries,

especially if they're surrounded by alleyways

that provide easy escape routes

and alcoves that give cover for a lowlife to lurk in.

We know this house has been burgled four times under previous owners,

so what makes it so attractive to those smash-and-grab thieves?

You notice here - one, two, three.

Three out of these four have got alarm boxes.

Ashleigh's hasn't got an alarm box.

And no, a sticker doesn't count.

Only 24% of homes with alarms are burgled.

It's a little plastic box that could be well worth its weight in gold.

Inside, the door is strong. But the windows aren't.

These don't lock.

They need sorting out, and pronto.

Right, Nick, so you've done your security assessment.

Ratings out of ten. What score do you give it?

I would give it...

six.

-Six out of ten.

-Six out of ten.

So, that four out of ten margin

was enough for the burglar on this occasion.

-It didn't have an alarm, did it?

-Mm.

You always get a lesser score if you're surrounded by rat-runs.

What are we going to do, then, to improve things?

The gate at the back, she doesn't use it.

We're going to shut it, we're going to bolt it.

We'll put a bit of topping on the top of that.

All the lighting needs to be looked at.

Wireless alarm which, in itself,

would probably have been enough to prevent this.

Ouch.

Six out of ten for security

isn't going to make anyone feel protected, let alone Ashleigh.

The house needs a security overhaul

if the family's going to feel safe again.

And I know just the man to do it.

RINGING TONE

-'Hello, Neil speaking.'

-Hello, Neil, it's Dan.

-'Dan, how are you doing?'

-I'm all right, yeah.

I've been attending a burglary where the family are pretty certain

they just don't want to be there any more,

and I want to put their minds at ease. Are you around?

'Yes, I am, yeah.

'Send me the details and I'm sure we can make them feel better.'

Fantastic. All right, mate. Bring your tools.

Security superstar Neil Goldup has responded to thousands of burglaries,

so there's no better man to fix up Ashleigh's house,

and I might even give him a hand myself.

-Neil!

-I'm here, Dan.

-The man I wanted to see.

-Right, let's get going...

But first, Keeley's on the trail of another break-in

in a different part of Leeds.

As night falls in the city, so does the snow.

Temperatures drop below zero.

But for single bank worker Bill, there's another chill in the air -

burglars in his house while he sleeps soundly upstairs.

Come morning, he realises thieves have trashed his house

and stolen something precious.

When I woke up this morning and looked out of the window,

I thought there's no way

that burglars are going to be turning out in this weather.

I was wrong.

62-year-old rugby fan Bill has lived in this house for 27 years.

But this morning was like no other.

So, talk me through your morning.

Yeah, I came through here and found these two coats on the floor.

And then that patio door was open.

-Not smashed, though?

-No, not smashed.

That's when I thought, "I wouldn't have left it open last night."

So, I then just basically went to shut it

and then came walking back into the living room

and that's when I started to realise

the floor was littered with paperwork and cards and things.

So, that's when I realised I'd been broken into.

So, what have they taken?

They've taken my note...pound note, pound coins and notes.

But they've also taken off there,

which I was saving 50 pence pieces in a VW ceramic campervan moneybox.

They've even taken that, and that was virtually full,

because I intend to go and see my grandchildren,

so I was going to cash that in with the bank

and take them the money so they could spend it.

It's like you've been violated.

You know, somebody's been in here and I've not asked them in.

And, you know, it's like being violated.

Police are on the scene to gather evidence

and make those crucial initial assessments.

They won't have had a vehicle.

Because if they'd had a vehicle, I would suspect laptops, TVs,

more substantial items, large items, would have gone.

There's plenty more they could take.

It's something you can put in your coat pocket and make good your escape.

I'll go and examine outside, look at the point of entry,

-and I'll work my way in.

-No problem at all.

Any questions, give us a shout. Can I get round that way?

-Yeah, you can get through that way.

-Excellent, thank you.

Now, Bill has actually got this big six-foot fence and big gate

around the back of his property.

But the gate was broken about a week ago in the wind.

And this is how they got in.

40% of break-ins are through the back door,

and Bill's flimsy patio locks made entry an easy job.

But CSI are experts in detecting forensic evidence,

and it looks like they've found something.

There's a clear point of entry, so we've given it a quick powder.

And I can see some fingerprints there.

So, I powdered it and lifted it and applied it to an acetate.

When I get back to the station, I'll put it onto the system.

It's come up really good now, so you can see the fingerprints on there.

These are new fingerprints, you're pretty sure of that?

Can't be definite.

However, there's quite a lot of detail in them,

so we're going to take them and, hopefully, they are the suspect's.

A clean fingerprint can result in identification

and conviction of the burglar.

But we'll have to wait to see if that's the case for Bill.

Meanwhile, the broken gate and poor security

makes Bill's house vulnerable,

and he's worried the burglars will be back with a car

to take the rest of his belongings.

What we want to do for you, Bill, is get someone round,

look at the security of the house

and make sure that it's safe so this isn't going to happen again.

How do you feel about that?

-That would be superb.

-Yeah?

-I would like that.

-We're going to sort this out for you.

-OK, then. Thank you.

We'll be back later in the programme

to bring Bill's security into the 21st century.

'Three miles back across town, working mum-of-three Ashleigh

'has had her home broken into and her children's things stolen.

'It's a difficult time for the whole family.'

How have the kids been?

My eldest, because, obviously,

she was at the property when I found it,

she's been quite upset about it.

Today, my middle child's asked for the iPad

and I said we haven't got it any more. She says, "Why?"

I said, "Cos somebody came in and they've taken it."

Just wanted to be honest to them.

Children think that the world's fairies and butterflies,

and they should as kids.

But it is a big, bad world out there and bad things do happen sometimes.

And with no home insurance, Ashleigh's massively out of pocket

and can't replace her kids' things.

Her only hope is the police.

West Yorkshire Police use their database of DNA and fingerprints

to track down criminals.

Often, the thieves are repeat offenders and are known to the force.

It's just a matter of catching them in the act.

And that's where there's been some good news for Ashleigh.

We've just heard a man has been arrested

breaking into another home in the city.

When police investigated, they discovered some of Ashleigh's things

which the suspect had taken to a local cash-for-goods store.

Is this the same person who broke into Ashleigh's house?

Or has he got another explanation for having her kids' stuff?

We'll find out soon.

'Catching the criminals would go a long way

'to making Ashleigh feel safe again.

'But until then, Neil and I are going to turn this place into Fort Knox.'

Have you got something I can get on with? I'm in grafting mood.

-Yes, get on with the fence.

-Fantastic.

Nice spiky stuff to put on top of the fence.

Short, sharp tactic to stop them climbing over.

This strong plastic stripping can be bought from most DIY stores

and screws on top of fences and gates easily.

'If you're like me, you might need a tiny bit of assistance.'

It's my little school, because I'm only a little fella!

That is really unpleasant to touch.

You can't keep your fingers on that for more than a second.

There's no way you could get over here.

Inside, Neil's using his skills and his legendary charm

to make Ashleigh feel more secure.

-Any concerns you've got?

-Just that one and the bathroom one.

Well, I'm here to make you feel safe,

so whatever you want, you just scream at me.

-Thank you!

-And I'll do it for you.

-Thank you.

Ahh! Who wouldn't feel safe with Neil around?

Ashleigh's windows didn't have locks, so Neil fits a simple sash jammer.

They cost about £10 each

and make forcing the window open virtually impossible.

I've been getting prickly with a fence,

and Neil couldn't resist helping me finish the job.

-Good.

-Right, let's get back in and allow them to finish off now.

Happy with that. DRILL WHIRS

This is the new wireless alarm system that's going in.

It will protect all the doors and both the kitchen and the front room.

The state-of-the-art motion sensor alarms

come with wireless push-button keys

so there aren't any codes or numbers to remember.

Prices start from around £200,

but they are the number one burglar deterrent.

And Neil has one more cunning device to fool the thieves.

I'll put it in and I'll show you. We might have to shut the curtains.

He's given me...

It's like a TV, basically, so if I'm not in, I can plug that in

-and it will reflect and it'll look like the TV's on.

-Yeah.

Yeah, so I do feel a bit better. But it's still fresh, isn't it, really?

Right, Neil's done a cracking job getting the security beefed up.

Ashleigh's going to feel safer, I'm sure.

Let's hope Nick's impressed, too.

We'll be back later to find out if Ashleigh feels safe enough to stay

and if the man linked to her stolen goods admits to the crime.

Back at Bill's, the events of yesterday

have forced him to reflect on the state of his house.

It was a wake-up call.

That's the nicest thing I can say that happened.

A wake-up call where I became blase about security in the house.

Crime reduction officer Tom White

can't believe the lack of protection on windows and doors.

The lock on the front of your house, that's going to come off.

If that's your lock inside onto the wooden frame here,

the metal bar will support, but a good push or a good kick,

-the door's going to come open.

-OK.

You've got a security light...

And it's not just the front that's in need of drastic improvement.

The light out the back hasn't got a sensor

and the patio door is really old and fragile.

Again, I think you mentioned a good pull,

that door's going to come open.

So, again, I'd think about maybe replacing the whole door.

So, out of ten, what would you score this house security-wise?

I think from what we've discussed with Bill,

I'd give it three out of ten.

-Three?! That's really not good.

-No.

It's low. A lot can be done to improve the security of this house.

I wonder what Bill thinks of the score.

Oh, it's very bad. Very bad.

We want to get that figure up,

so I've spoken to a guy who's going to come round

and sort the house out for you, get the security issues sorted.

-That would be smashing.

-Get that number up from three.

There's a lot of work to be done

to make the house safe before nightfall.

So, Neil's back with his box of tricks.

He's been in the business 14 years

and has seen how modern life has affected everyone's security.

The trouble is, nowadays, everybody comes in,

as soon as the door's closed, the outside world's not there any more.

They'll come in, play on their tablets or phones.

They don't talk to neighbours.

Used to say it's highly likely that you're going to be broken into again.

It's changed now.

It's highly likely your neighbours are going to be broken into,

because the burglars, they know the area, they're comfortable in that area.

So, things are changing.

Your neighbours have a unique view of your property, so talk to them.

You never know when you might need each other's help.

If a burglar is on the prowl on your streets,

it's essential your front locks are strong and deter thieves.

This mighty double lock is just the ticket.

Oh, made light work of that!

Is it crucial that they have two locks on the door?

Yes, on a final exit door, it's advisable to have two locks on,

a night latch and a five-lever lock.

-Just to double up security?

-Yeah.

So there's two locking points when you leave.

'Neil's drilled the main hole

'and, apparently, I have to finish the job.'

-There you go.

-Oh, right.

-There's your screws.

-You're trusting.

-Tea-time for me.

The kettle hasn't boiled yet, Neil!

First, you've got to fit the locks to the patio doors and the windows.

Not to mention the alarm,

sensors for which are going all over the house.

There you go.

'Meanwhile, Bill is having a crack at the back gate.'

-Missed it.

-That's totally missed it!

'Without much luck!'

Uhh!

What I'm going to do, then, I've got some string, that stuff,

just tie it so nobody can get in.

'String?!

'I'm not sure Neil will approve.'

There you are.

No-one... Oh.

SHE LAUGHS

Luck is not on your side today, is it?

'Fortunately, we have a man that can.'

Neil's come up with a clever plan.

-Oh, has he, now?

-Yes. Better than mine.

-Come on, then.

A sturdy piece of wood from the gate to the fence does the job

and holds considerably better than Bill's string.

If you can just pull that.

-Right.

-There you go. I'll leave you to it.

-Thanks(!)

-I'm going to try and get that cup of tea.

Right, if you just pull this closer. There you go.

-We're done.

-Right. Good work.

-Yes. That's solid.

So, Neil, what have we done to upgrade this property?

First of all, on the door, you'll notice

there's a high-security double-locking night latch on there.

All windows downstairs and upstairs have all got locks on now.

They're what they call snap locks.

When you close the window, they automatically lock.

You need a key to open them.

-We've done something to the back door - that's where the burglar got in.

-Yes.

There was just a little catch holding that.

-I've put two locks on there.

-And finally, the burglar alarm.

-The alarm system, yes. Which you helped put in.

-I did.

-I'll let you test it.

-Go on, then.

I'm dying to get this out of your hands. Let's have a go.

ALARM BEEPS

-That's it.

-All working?

-Yep.

If you want to open the door, that should set off.

ALARM BLARES

-Oh, right. Yeah. That must be down to how I fitted it.

-Yes.

-OK.

ALARM STOPS

It's been just ten hours since Bill discovered the break-in

and there's been a transformation outside and in.

You said to me earlier, "I'm not going out tonight."

-But you changed your mind.

-I changed my mind, I'm off out now.

-Because you feel like the house is safe now.

-Safe now, yes.

If they get in, they're going to use...

well, smash with a 14-pound sledgehammer

through the patio doors.

-Stopping in isn't going to stop them.

-No.

But the locks will stop anybody thinking

they can just break in easily.

The fingerprint taken from Bill's door

was checked against the police database, but no match was found.

Without any other leads to follow,

it's likely Bill's VW moneybox has driven away for good.

So, I've gone back to give him something to smile about.

-Hello, Bill. How are you?

-Fine, thank you. Fine. Come in.

I've got a little treat for you.

-There you go.

-Oh, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-This is not to be left on the windowsill.

Oh, superb. Are you sure? It's better than the one that got taken.

-It really is. That's superb.

-So you can start saving again.

-In fact, your first 50 pence.

-Thank you very much.

I really am appreciative of that. That's touched me. Thank you.

Bill might not have had any luck getting his things back,

but it's a different story at Ashleigh's.

The man arrested for the burglary was Joseph Parkin.

He stole the children's tablets and Ashleigh's iPad.

But after his arrest and guilty plea, some of the goods were retrieved.

He's since appeared in court

and was sentenced to three years, two months,

for a number of offences, including Ashleigh's burglary.

So, Ashleigh and her kids have been reunited with some of their things.

That's brilliant news.

It just remains for Nick to reassess the house for security.

From the front of the house, walking past,

you glance up, you see big, bright alarm box.

And you've also got a big light there, which will flood this area.

What would be your security rating for this place?

If she uses everything she's got...

..I'll give it a seven.

That's a step in the right direction.

But more importantly, have the improvements

changed Ashleigh's mind about wanting to move?

I've lived around here all my life. It's a great support network for me.

I've got my family that live everywhere.

I am happy that I'm back in my home. It's where I'm most comfortable.

So, Ashleigh's decided to stay put

and she's taken extra comfort knowing the burglar's behind bars.

It makes me feel a lot more settled that he's locked up and behind bars

and that it wasn't a personal attack on me.

That's sort of how it feels when you've been burgled.

You feel like it's a personal attack.

And I'm completely content now.

Like nothing's happened, like I was never burgled.

I am, I'm very pleased. Thank you very much.

When I first met Ashleigh, she was all set on leaving this house

because of the burglary.

But now, thanks to the hard work the police have put in

and our security measures, she can feel confident

she can bring up her kids in her own neighbourhood.

That's what we want.

It's great the burglar's been caught

and Ashleigh's got some of her things back.

And Bill's using his new moneybox

to save up to spoil his grandchildren something rotten.

Good results all round, I'd say.

-That's it for now. See you next time.

-Bye-bye.