Episode 10 Crimewatch Roadshow

Today: The burglars who stole thousands of pounds worth of

jewellery. They think they got away Hello and welcome to Crimewatch

Roadshow. We are live and we are here to get your help to catch

criminals that make our lives a misery. So, what have we got for

you today? The mounted police come keeping down crime levels in

London's West End. We want to find that thieves who targeted this

royal Doulton collection. Sandra earth turns detective to help track

down the burglars who ransacked her flat. -- Sander. The team has been

out on the road for two weeks investigating the crimes that are

happening where you are. This week we've been in the South East of

England, and today we're in London again. We have reached Covent

Garden. Despite the fact the Royal Opera has is behind me, I am not

going to sing. We will discover how mounted patrols will keep London

and visitors much safer. We will be finding out more about the work

they do later. We are joined by Alice Bhandhukravi. Just about

everyone has a mobile phone. We don't always realise how carrying

expensive gadgets can make us attempting target for crooks. We

will be looking at sophisticated tricks that thieves used. Police

need your help to find two cunning burglars who have been coming their

way into upmarket apartments in the Wandsworth area of London. I was

feeling shocked, shaky and six. These two work organised. It was

well planned. I feel violated. You do not know where they have been or

what they have done. Back to seat is the home of choice for a new

generation of young professionals. -- Battersea. On Wednesday, first

debris, Sandra went to work as usual. -- February. Two burglars

were about to pay her apartment the visit. The burglars were seen

approaching. One tried the door handle the that his gloves on. He

soon realised his mistake. -- without his gloves on. He realised

his mistake and white the Prince off with his scarf. -- the prints.

The they were smartly dressed to fit in with their surroundings.

They have put a lot of thought into it. They were well organised and

planned. The suspects headed for two flats at the top of the

building. They forced entry into Sandra's flat - high up on the 6th

floor. No one suspected a thing until her husband got home from

work. When he opened the door, he was horrified. The flat was in

chaos. Richard rang Sandra to break the terrible news. I was in shock.

I was panicked this had happened. They had been through absolutely

everything in the flat. Every drawer, cupboard, box. Everything

was overturned. Nothing was left untouched. To make matters worse,

some of her most treasured possessions had disappeared.

jury was sentimental. Mainly the jury from my grandmother. -- the

jury. It was sad to you -- it was sad to lose those things.

intruders got away with more than family heirlooms. They went through

my husband's things and took his wedding ring. I had had it made for

him. It was special. In total, suspects stole over �11,000 worth

of property. I am very angry with them, thinking they can take all

these things and we can claim on insurance. The lot of the items -

sentimental items - they are not replaceable. The unwelcome visitors

were not done yet. They wanted more. Once they've finished ransacking

the flat, they moved on to the one next door. The two suspects were

brazen. They had broken into the first flat, moved on to the second

flat where they had ransacked the property. Sandra rang her neighbour,

Zane, to break the bad news. It is just shock. You do not expect it.

It made me feel violated. You do not know where they have been, what

they have done. You do not know who they are and what they're after.

Stephanie was devastated by the thought of having intruders in her

home. The initial feeling, especially from Stephanie was, she

wants to get out. That is why it I cleaned the whole place. It was a

case of grabbed a load of disinfectant, bleach, cleaning

products, and go around the whole flat, cleaning, hoovering and

dusting to try to get the feeling of normality back. Feel like it is

our apartment again. To add insult to injury, the burglars also stole

the Mercedes sports car. They were caught on camera driving out of the

underground car park. It was kind of like the second wave. Go down

the lift, see the entry space where the car was and it was just like,

bang, there is the final hit. out later how the detective work of

Sunder linked them to their home and the theft. -- Sandra. And we'll

see how Sandra gets on with her detective work later in the

programme. But first, let's take a look at this morning's CCTV. York

station and this man tries to sort at a row at the taxi rank by

punching his victim unconscious on the floor. The third who flew -

threw the punch goes back into the station, giving us a proper look.

Be cannot forget that shed in a hurry! Give us a call. -- that

shirt. These two are heading into a general store in Slough. They do

not want to be recognised. They have hand guns and threaten staff.

It turns violent. His scarf is starting to slip so we can see part

of his face. The shopkeeper gets pulled over the counter and hit

over their head. Behind him, the second rubber casually puts his

weapon down and fills a bank with whisky. -- robber. If you have seen

this pair, help us make sure they are caught. March of this year, a

chicken shop in the Forest Gate area of London. Tempers flare.

There is pushing and shoving. Where is this guy going? He is arming

himself with a golf club. He comes behind the victim and whacks him.

He is left in a critical condition with a three inch laceration to his

head. We need this guy's name. Shocking stuff! If any of those

faces look familiar, give us a call. Our number is 08000 468 999. Or you

can text us on 63399. Text CW, space and then your message. And

that space is really important - if you don't put it in - your message

won't get through to us. Of course, you can e-mail us too. The address:

[email protected]. Now time for a quick update on yesterday's appeals. We

had a lot of calls on the attempted kidnapping of the young woman in

Kingston in London. You've phoned in with possible names and

locations for the attacker. Police are sifting through all that and

say they have a number of promising new leads. Plus we got some really

detailed information on Wanted Face Patrick Feeney, wanted in

connection with fraud and money laundering. Now let's go back to

Covent Garden and Alice. Thanks, Rav. It's Friday, lots of people

will be arriving in London for a weekend break. Now, 30 million

tourists visit London every year, and this summer, the Met are

running a special campaign called Operation Trafalgar. Hundreds of

officers including the mounted police are making these streets a

safer place to be for everyoe who Officers whose job it is to keep

people save have their job cut out for them. It is teeming with

tourists and people on a night out. They are targets for pickpockets.

Operation Trafalgar has been launched to keep people safe in the

West End. It is a high profile, long-term operation we are running

in the West End. We want to make the West End of London hostile and

diamond for criminals to operate. Operation Trafalgar draws on

officers from many sections of the mat. Tonight mounted officers are

on patrol. A we're here to reassure members of the public and to combat

antisocial behaviour, linked to alcohol, as well as personal

robbery. What is the plan for tonight? We will be aiming to go

past the key areas. There will be looking at theatres, licensed

premises. -- we will be looking. All areas that will be busy. They

continue their patrols around the Charing Cross area on a busy Friday

night. It is not long before they are responding to a call for help

from members of the public who had detained the suspected fraudster.

By the time I catch up with them, they have detained the suspects and

up in the process of searching them. They may have been a fraud in

PizzaExpress. He was seen running out, chased by a member of staff.

He was given chase. I think the police and horses arrived and he

has been arrested. The suspected con man is not happy about being

caught. You can see his bag of forged notes in hands of one of the

officers. What just happened? had offered false cash, forged

notes, in PizzaExpress. He was chased across Trafalgar Square.

When we arrived on the scene, he was searched. He had copious

amounts of cash on him. It is believed they are forgeries and he

has been arrested. As they get back on patrol, Charlotte needs a little

out from a restaurant chain. It is clear to see the man to brunch are

both effective and very ill crowd pleaser. -- have mounted branch are

both effective and a real crowd pleaser. With me now is Chief

Inspector Kevin Hobson. As we saw there in the film, Operation

Trafalgar is a major undertaking. Indeed it is. Every week over 1000

officers are deployed on the streets in the West End. It is a

very busy summer. You will be stretched to full capacity. Will

Londoners be safe? They well. We do want people to take personal

responsibility. We have personal safety advice and crime prevention

advice being given to people. We have lots of information. We want

people to follow worse on our Twitter account. What should we

know? -- follow us. If you have a mobile phone, do not hold it in

front of you. Thank you for talking to us. Let's find out have the

I want you to watch very closely for a couple of minutes. This may

help you not to lose your wallet. Sophie, this must be an absolutely

fascinating job? There is always a variation in what we are

investigating. And you get to hear about all the latest scams, one of

which is table surfing. Tommy about that. Often there will be someone

pretending to be a tourist. They come into the cafe or bar way you

are having a drink. They will put something in front of you, and say,

I really want to get to Big Ben, can you tell me how I do that? And

then they walk away with the map, and your phone is gone. So look out

for that. And handbags are always a target, and there a sneaky ways to

get one. What happens is, you could be sitting in a restaurant or pub,

your bag will be on the floor, you think it is safe because you have

left it there. They move in behind you, take the bag while you're

distracted, and before you know, it's gone. If your bag is gone and

the thief is gone, is there any chance of getting it back?

looking to CCTV, and identify the suspect. And then you are at

spotting those phases in the crowd. Do these people usually coming

quietly, or is it very suddenly? They think they have got away with

the crime. They do normally come quietly. But they haven't

necessarily got away with it. Beware when you're out and about.

Time now to take a look at today's Wanted Faces. Today we're showing

you some of the suspects we've already shown you this week. The

response has been good, but police want more information. First up,

this man, James Hannon. We showed you his face on Monday, but police

still need more details on where he is now. He was charged with an

offence of aggravated burglary in 2003, but failed to appear before

Croydon Crown Court. It's thought he may now be living in Ireland,

but also has connections to the Tunbridge Wells. Next, Steven Brown.

He was arrested in May 2010 on suspicion of breaching a sexual

offences prevention order. He has a noticeable Westcountry accent and

noticeable Westcountry accent and still has connections in the

still has connections in the Wiltshire and Bristol areas. On

Tuesday we showed you Mohamed Ahmed Aden. He was given two years in

prison for robbery, but didn't turn up in court to be sentenced. He's

described as having a Somali accent and has connections to the

Leicester and London areas. Do you know where he is?

And finally this man, Sal Adams, will be 30 tomorrow. Last year he

was sentenced in his absence to three years and nine months for

fraud and offences relating to the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has a

north-west accent and connections to the Blackpool area. He's also

known to gamble in casinos. You gave us potential locations for him,

but let's spoil his birthday and put him behind bars. If you

recognise him, or any of our Wanted Faces, give us a call.

Coming up on today's programme: Tackling the muggers and

pickpockets in the early hours, how the Met faces the challenges of

police in the city streets. They stole thousands of pounds of

jewellery from a posh Pent house. Can you help us identify these

thieves? And Irene's beloved china figures -

there theft left her heart broken. Can you help us track them down?

Now, back to Dave and news of a highly organised scam that the Met

need your help with. Yes, Rav. It is a scam you can fall

victim to when you're using one of these in its -- cash machine. We

have some CCTV of the gang in operation. You will see that the

victim is the man at the cash machine. The suspect can be seen

gathering around him. One looks over his shoulder and takes a note

of his pain while the other and drops a fiver on the fourth. He

taps the victim on his shoulder and points out the money on the floor.

While he is distracted, another member of the gang steals the card,

then all of the gang members disburse, leaving the victim

wondering where his kadis. PC Victoria Yusuf, this is an

organised gang you're looking for. Yes, we believe that this is a very

well-organised gang who are suspected of stealing bank cards

and PIN numbers from people as they use cashpoint machines. There's

usualy five people working together, they all have specific roles such

as the look out, the observer, the distraction man and card-taker.

What happened after they got the card? These guys work fast. The

victim had �300 pounds withdrawn from his account almost immediately

after the gang stole his card. They then used the card to purchase

alcohol, so the total amount of money stolen was about �600. �600

in a matter of moment. And they are very crafty, because they don't

take the money, just the card. The victim is waiting because he thinks

the card will come out, and then after a couple of minutes, realises.

How it is too late. So people really need to be aware of anyone

who appears to be getting to close to them whilst getting money out of

a hole in the wall? Don't let anybody get too close to you while

you're using the cash., and beware of what is going on around you.

Sensible advice. Now back to Alice. Now to Croydon and the pensioner

whose treasured collection of porcelain figures has been targeted

by burglars - not once, but twice. I started collecting royal Doulton

because my aunt was interested in the 1930s. Every year for 20 years,

I bought her a figure for Christmas. From Irene, her Royal Doulton

figurines will be linked to the memory of her beloved Aunty Hilda.

These figurines have become extremely important to me. They

trigger memories of the past. two years ago, burglars broke into

her home, stealing three figures and with them part of the

connection with her late aunt. Somebody just comes in and thinks

it is OK to walk off with everything that you have collected

and part of your life, part of your history. You can't recapture that.

Irene's insurance company paid out, and she was able to replace the

stolen items. But her prize collection would soon be targeted

again. In March of this year, Irene and her husband, who suffers from

lung disease, left the house for a rare night out. As they set off,

burglars were preparing to strike for a second time. It all happened,

I'm afraid, when on the first evening for some weeks, because of

my husband's health, we had gone out to supper. As Eileen and her

husband enjoyed their night out, an intruder was busy working on how to

get into their house. We believe the suspects have climbed through

the kitchen window. It is quite high up from the floor level.

he had forced his way in, the intruder's first move was to make

sure he wouldn't be disturbed. He fixed the chain across the front

door so no one could get in. Then he took his pick of the couple's

prized possessions - jewellery, war medals and Irene's beloved

figurines. We believe the suspect made off with about nine Royal

Doulton figurines worth about �1,900, some sentimental jewellery

and some plates that had a lot of sentimental value to Irene as well.

At about half-past 11, Eileen and her husband returned from their

evening out, but when I ring tried the door, she realised something

was wrong. We couldn't get in. I became rather worried, because it

was very cold, and my husband's oxygen had run out, so that was

really quite frightening. I ring's neighbour and his girlfriend were

arriving home when they spotted the distressed couple. When I explained

what had happened, Glen, an electrician, offered to help.

Grabbing a set of cutters, he was able to get the door open. When I

walked in, the kitchen window was wide open. He said, don't go any

further. You mustn't go into the house until I have looked to see if

anybody is still there. I went upstairs and there was an absolute

mess, all of the jewellery boxes all over the beds, lights on, doors

open. He came back and said it was safe for me to going, but we had

been burgled. My husband was very upset, and I think he said, not

again. Irene was devastated to have been burgled once more, and like

the last time, the thieves seem to have targeted her cherished

heirlooms. The three most expensive Royal Doulton figurines were stolen

again from Irene's collection. This would indicate that the person

committing the burglaries does have a knowledge of world Doulton

figurines and their value. In all, nine figures were stolen, including

the first one Irene bought a hard aren't back in the 1950s. They are

worth almost �2,000. Boss Dai Greene would get some money back

from her insurers, she is more concerned about the memory she has

lost. I find it... Very sad, very depressing, and at the same time, I

resent having my past intruded on and taken away from me.

Such a shame. Remember, if you know anything about that incident in

Croydon on March 31st, please get in touch and help the police find

Irene's figurines. Mick Reynolds, your agency works closely with the

police to help reduce crime by marking property. First of all,

take pictures, because a picture tells a thousand words. Then use a

forensic tagging system. When you put this plate under UV light, it

makes it very easy for anybody checking property to pick up on

this product. And there is another mark there? This one is slightly

more visible than the other, that one is almost totally invisible

under the stop. One of the muses metals, and the other plastic

compounds. Thank you for talking to Gareth, you have got some CCTV of

an incident in South Wales when a jewellers was burgled. Tell us

about it. You can see the couple that you want to identify. This

couple pretended to be a mother and son. They look pretty normal,

chatting away as normal customers. They're asking to see all sorts of

jewellery and are having a good look at it.

And now it looks like they're being helpful here and helping the shop

assistants with the packing. Yes, it is all part of their act. We've

examined the CCTV to see how they managed to get away with so much

jewellery right in front of the shop assistants. He put the jury

down inside his sleeve, and then from his sleeve into the pocket.

almost create a diversion with the other hand, but it is that hand at

the top, it somehow goes up his sleeve, and somehow he gets it into

his pocket away from the staff's rise. Very crafty. And it was very

high value. �5,000 worth of jewellery was taken.

They left a �40 deposit, saying they would be back to pick up the

jury, but when they left, they never did return. So they really

are posing as normal customers. Very crafty. What description do

you have to go on? The male is Eastern European, approximately six

foot tall in his late 20s with bad facial acne and at least two gold

teeth. The female is described as approximately 5 foot 3, in her mid

to late 40s. And she was saying she was his

mother, that was the ruse used? That's right.

Well, hopefully someone out there will have some information on their

whereabouts, and if you do, please get in touch. Most of us would like

to think that we wouldn't fall for this type of scam, but here to show

us how easy it is is Stuart Watkins who is an expert in sleight of hand.

Stuart, just why do we fall victim to this when it's happening right

under our noses? It is professional distraction, psychology, Ms

direction. It can be easily done with the right people. You do this

legally. You are going to show us how easy this sleight of hand is.

Our floor manager is just sweating behind camera there, because he has

lent us his wedding ring. 91 Ben Tish show me how easy it is to make

it disappear into thin air. -- and you were going to show me. He holds

it close, starts to use a misdirection, and it is in that

hand, and then it is gone. But I do I always keep them in a very safe

place. I was focusing on your hand. I did not see that. I was watching

you so closely. It literally seemed to disappear into thinner. This is

what they are doing. You are creating a diversion. They are

looking somewhere else and then it happens. It is so easily done, even

when it happens again. These are recognisable as the lottery slips

we will see every day. Everyone at home will be watching you like a

hawk. I get you to see what I want you to see and get you to do what I

want you to do. Again, in the right direction. I have no idea where

they have gone. Unbelievable! You have just made 80 quid out of

nowhere. Thank you for joining us. More on those burglars who have

been stealing from upmarket flats. They stole thousands of pounds of

property before escaping in a Mercedes. I am always wondering

where that everything will still be here. Sandra was determined to

fight back. She distributed leaflets, showing CCTV images of

burglars around her local area. physically walked around the area

and distributed them to the concierge desks to the local

buildings that are similar to ours. Shortly after she had handed out

the leaflet, her detective work received a breakthrough. She

received a call explaining there had been a burglary at a

neighbouring block. I telephone them and they confirmed they

recognised the burglars from there CCTV, comparing them to the

pictures I have left, and realised they were the same people. This

second burglary shared the same method. Once again the suspects

were caught approaching the complex on CCTV. This time they were seen.

The cleaner disturb the suspects in the garage area of the second

burglary. The suspects had to break out of the garage area. The cleaner

later identified the same two suspects. In the images from the

flyers handed out by Sandra. Natalia was the victim this time.

The spoils from the burglary were huge. I had a Baywatch, which to be

insured would be �32,000. -- a watch. I had some other watchers.

One had diamonds in it. I had a very expensive diamond ring,

costing �60,000. I had Chanel earrings. All that has gone. It is

estimated at about �150,000. I was crying for about a week every day.

Because the contents is very expensive, not many insurers would

insure me for this type of value. It would cost me a lot of money

every year to be insured so I did not take out insurance. Some jerk's

detective work linked the two burglaries. -- Sandra. The suspects

had stolen hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of property. They're

cool, calm and know what they are doing. They make a one to commit

further offences and the need to catch them. -- they may go on.

you can hear a lot of clattering and banging in the background, it

is Covent Garden and they are setting up. Just describe to me

what went through your mind when it opened the front door? There is the

thought that people have been into your home and been three of

personal possessions and take and what they please. You think your

home is somewhere to be safe and secure. It is your private space

violated, isn't it? You turned detective, why? Having had this bad

experience, it is the thought of having it happen to someone else. I

produced flyers and went around to the local community to raise

awareness and warned them. You had some success, didn't you? Yes.

Linking the burglaries has helped the police with their inquiries.

What would you like to say to anybody who knows all recognises

them? If anyone recognises them, please get in touch. Let's hope

they do. As she says, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously. It is

time for us to get an update on Operation Trafalgar. It is a busy

Friday night in the West End. There are thousands of tourists and

revellers enjoying the weather in late May. We are here as part of

Operation Trafalgar. It is based on an idea used by the police force in

New York in the 1990s. It means there are extra officers patrolling

the streets to make it safe. tend to encounter things like drink

fuelled violence, assaults. Pickpockets, we have a big problem

with pickpockets. With thousands of people swamping the West End, it is

not long before a couple of suspects are stopped - one of whom

is unknown thief. We have been given something to mention that the

officers have arrested someone suspected of pickpocketing.

officers had stopped the two suspects. A member of the public

has just handed me three cards - and oyster and two bank cards -

that have been found on the burglar. That is yards away from the

possible pickpockets. We stop these guys very close to the place where

the bank cards have been found. -- stopped. They do not have enough

evidence to arrest the men. They do believe they are up to no good,

getting very close to passers by. They issued with an antisocial

dispersal order. This means you are banned from coming here for the

next 24 hours. If you are seen in the area in that time, you will be

arrested. As the two suspected pickpockets melt into the crowds on

Shaftesbury Avenue, it is time to check out a new addition to the

West End street furniture. Towering above the revellers are police

podiums. The podiums are here to be another set of eyes in this kind.

It is so busy. There are so many people walking down. They can see

over the tops of people, through people. You can see a lot more from

up there than at street level. the night progresses, they are

alerted by the CCTV control room to a known drug user acting

suspiciously in nearby Soho. Dave knows the suspect. He has dealt

with him on several previous occasions. He finds a crack pipe on

the suspect. He admits to having smoked crack cocaine earlier.

You're not going to say who you got the drugs off, are you? Although

the suspect admits having smoked crack cocaine, no drugs are found

in his possession, so he cannot be arrested. When you going to change

your lifestyle? How old are you now? You are not exactly a spring

chicken, are you? Exactly. I want you to leave. Disburse, go. Leave,

leave, leave. No drugs tonight. He has had drugs earlier on. He has a

crack pipe. This is what they used when they smoke crack from street

dealers. They come across an incident. For one reveller, the

night ends on a nasty note. He has been a victim of hugger mugging.

That is where try to befriend someone and get up close and stills

from them. We are dealing with an incident of hugger mugging. They

have approached a victim in the street, done the usual friendly,

drunken dance and taken his own out of his pocket. It has been

witnessed by officers who are following the gentleman and they

have been arrested. It is the start of the busy summer for Operation

Trafalgar. Let's catch up with what has been happening since we have

been on air. A possible name has come through already from the CCTV

we showed two earlier of the armed will -- robbery at the convenience

store in Slough. Lots of you calling in about the attempted

kidnap of the young woman in Kingston from yesterday. More

potential names for this picture, which the police are looking into.

That man clearly needs to be caught. That is all we have got time for

today. It has been a good week, hasn't it? A great week.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. It is our last day in

London. I have had a great time. The highlight was going out on the

Thames with the marine police. enjoy playing about on the boat

yesterday. Next week we up of two Wiltshire. We will find out how

police are tackling the distribution of illegal drugs and

criminals moving on to their patch. Quite a few see will Chet as a soft

touch. Then we go to Wales, where. Police are cat -- cracking down on

-- where Welsh police are cracking down on scrap merchants. Check out