Episode 13 Crimewatch Roadshow

This morning on Crimewatch Roadshow... A rogue trader who

ripped up a retired couple's driveway before ripping them off

Hello. And welcome to Crimewatch Roadshow. We're live and as usual

we're asking for your help to catch those criminals who think they've

got away with it. Let's make sure they don't. On the programme

today... Nikitta Grender was killed last year while heavily pregnant, a

murder which shook the nation. We talk to the family liaison officer

who supported her parents. The thief who joined prayers at a

mosque. He came back later to steal from them. We have it all on CCTV.

And the pensioners who were victims of a very elaborate scam. Instead

of getting a new Drive, they were conned for thousands of pounds. We

need your help to catch the rogues responsible. The roadshow team are

out travelling the country for a month, investigating crime where

you are. They were in Wiltshire yesterday. Today we've crossed the

border into Wales. Dave Guest is in charge out on the road. So where

exactly are you today Dave? Hi Rav. Today we're with Gwent Police in

the centre of Newport. It's fairly bustling here in the town centre.

This is the first of three days here in Wales. These things have

become familiar in the UK. Later we will tell you how cash machines are

becoming a major target for criminals. We also joined by a new

member of the team today, Nicholas Smith. -- Nicola Smith from BBC

Wales who's joining me for the rest of the week. Nicola. Thanks Dave.

Yes, I've been a reporter on this patch for years. And later we'll be

appealing for help on a theft from a mosque which is just up the road

from here. Rav. Thanks Nicola. Now our first appeal

today. And it's the tale of rogues who promised a retired couple

they'd repair their driveway. Instead they led them a merry dance

before fleecing them for thousands of pounds. I think it is a scam

that has probably been used countless times and will carry on

being used. How could I have fallen for such a stupid thing? I was

livid about it! Anybody seen a red- headed gentleman with a fawn jacket,

please let me know. Maureen and Eric James have lived in the same

house near Newport for 52 years. Due to their work with the church

and local community groups they are well known in the area. It is not

often strangers drop by. But one caller would betray their trust and

con them out of thousands of pounds. On Saturday 19th made, 2012, Mr

James was in his front garden when a male drove past in a small white

van and parked just by his neighbour's home. There it's

original block paving was five years old and looked worn. --

Eric's. A white van pulled up and a gentleman got out and said I have

been looking on my laptop and we did this about five years ago. He

was a ginger haired gentlemen, I remember that well. He said the

guarantee was up. The is was the first part of the scam, the mention

of a guarantee on the dry voice barked Eric's attention. He had

been given the impression the repairs would be done for free. The

seed had been sown. The man called himself Chris. There was a

discussion about the driveway, nothing solid was agreed. Now the

second part of the scam. The man told Eric the damage driveway would

only need a small amount of work. - - damaged. Under guarantee we would

only have to put some dustbin and build it up to get it more firm,

that would be OK. -- dust in. He said he would come back next week.

He told Eric he would send a member of the team round to doing

valuation. -- do a valuation. A did not agree to any work, just that he

would come back and say what they could do. Chris left and the trap

was set. Eric and Maureen were about become victims of a Kroll

scam. This was just the start of their ordeal and their trusting

natures would be well and truly abused -- of Kroll scam. Mrs James

was at home alone cleaning when she heard a noise outside. She came out

and saw a man taking up the block paving on the driveway. I was

upstairs cleaning, I came down to put stuff in the washing machine

and heard a noise. I looked out of the kitchen window and there was a

man on the drive digging up the drive. What are you doing? Doing

the drive. But somebody asked you to? That would be a shock to anyone.

And later in the programme you can find out what happened next. First

up, Warren Jones. Police have been looking for him for the past six

years. He was due to appear before Preston Crown court in February

2006 in connection with a charge of Actual Bodily Harm but he didn't

turn up. He has tattoos on his right arm of a skull with "United"

above it and a heart with "true love Karla" written on it. Do you

know where Jones is now? Our next two wanted faces are connected.

Roman Sojak and Lucas Mirga are both wanted by detectives in

Lancashire in connection with affray and possessing an offensive

weapon. They failed to appear in court in November last year and

warrants were issued for their arrest. Both men have Polish

accents and Sojak has tattoos of faces on his arms. They have

connections to the Preston area but could be anywhere in the country.

Have you seen them recently? Our last wanted face today is this man,

Scott Hamshire. Detectives from six different police forces want to

speak to him in connection with a series of thefts from supermarket

tills totalling over �25,000. He has connections to the Essex area,

particularly Dagenham and Rainham. But where is he now? If you know

where any of these wanted faces are, please get in touch. The number to

call is... 08000 468 999. Or text us on 63399. Text CW, space and

then your message. And please, leave the space or your message

won't get through to us. Or, email us. [email protected]. Now back to

Nicola in Newport. Thanks Rav. Now South Wales has a huge population.

Many people live in the valleys, and commute to the big cities of

Newport, Cardiff and Swansea to work. Such a large population

provides the forces here with a wide of range challenges. Tucked

into the south-east corner of Wales, Gwent Police had a mixture of urban

and rural areas, over 600 square miles in size. The force is led by

one of the few female chief constables in the UK. Our focus is

on the priority crime areas in relation to burglaries, violent

crime and making the area and environment that is safe. We will

follow Gwent officers as they target scrap dealers in the fight

against metal theft. We have so much on board I do not think you

can account for it. And we take a look at the sometimes forgotten

side of policing. Caring for victims and their families.

never dealt with it, I don't think we ever will. Over the border, we

will also join the neighbouring South Wales police force as they

face the challenges of policing a major capital city. A nearly 200

times a year we are concerned with Premiership football, Six Nations

rugby, Royal and VIP visits. Police in a capital city is a privilege

but it has demands on the force and we respond professionally to those.

We also look at the ground-breaking work being done at the forensic

support unit, jointly run by both forces. Or we are looking to see if

the detail within the crime scene marks and if there is any

identifiable features. And as usual, local police officers will appeal

for your help to solve crime in the area. South Wales Police urgently

need your help with this next crime. It happened very recently - just

over two weeks ago on Tuesday 12th June when a cash machine outside a

Waitrose store in Cardiff was targeted in broad daylight. They

got away with a substantial amount of money and the robbers are still

at large. Now we've got some CCTV of the incident. Now the first

thing we see is the security van pulling up outside the store. A

security guard gets out and goes to the back of the van to pull out the

first case of cash he's going to be putting into the cash machine.

There's another guard there and they spend around fifteen minutes

filing the cash machine from the security can. Then the thieves

strike. And here they come. The white transit van pulls up

alongside the security van. You can see one man getting out of the

passenger seat and another three jump out of the side door. They run

towards the cash machine. Now you can't see this on camera but they

wait for the security guards to co me out of the ATM pod. They then

punch one of them and pin the other one against the wall. They grab

five cases of cash and run back to the van, which by then has been

turned around. And they make their escape... And off they go. DS Rob

Cronick is one of the investigating officers. You have a case similar

to the one that went missing. five of them. This was a violent

attack. Three of the men have Liverpool accents, two wearing

orange railway clothing but in particular, the driver has a mole

on the right side of his face, on his cheekbone. We must find them.

Where was the white van abandoned? It was found abandoned and secured

on Hollybush Heights near the scene. We suspect they have driven away in

Strangely, a child's body was found in the back. By it is unusual. --

Yes, that push chair belongs to somebody. We need to find that it

was. This ban was also used in Chester in a robbery on 18th May.

Plenty of clues there. We need to find these men because they could

be doing it again. For Ben Duke. Lot of clues there. Were you around

on 18th May been Chester or June fall off in Cardiff? -- 12th.

Hopefully you can help us with some leads on that robbery. Now an

appeal from Hertfordshire Police about a very nasty con. The

deception involves lying to people to get hold of their PIN number. DC

Rebecca Primrose from Hertfordshire Police is here and Rebecca you're

aware of five of these cons which have all happened this year. Yes,

we have five different fraud cases from the St Alban's area which have

an identical modus operandi. They happened in April this year. It

basically involves the offender making a call to the victim's

landline claiming to be from the bank security department and

telling them the card has been cloned and fraudulently used.

victims are vulnerable and in the same area. They are all over 80 and

all in the St Albans area and all the locations are close to each

other. The call sounds convincing to these people. They are talking

about machinery, technology they use and so on. What are they doing?

The tale the victim they should never give their PIN number out but

then go on to ask them to enter the number into their hands set to

confirm the identity which a bank would never do. The victim then

enters the PIN number into the phone and the offenders had

somewhere of decoding that at the other end and they then have the

PIN number. And it is rubbish, of course, but a good ruse. Then they

actually sense somebody round, don't they? They then confirm to

the victim that your card has been fraudulently used and we will send

somebody round to the house to collect it so the bank can

investigate the matter. So somebody claims to be a courier, collects

the card, then goes away. Here we have some CCTV picture of somebody

We don't have this is the person but they are using a stolen card.

He matches the description provided by each victim of the person. We

are keen to speak with that person to identify them and also the

female in the footage with him. have a female and a male. They fit

the description. The description of the person who comes to collect the

card is an Asian male in his late twenties, early 30s, chubby built,

approximately five foot seven and the person who collects the card

present a business card to the victim bearing the name of Victor a

Hopefully someone can help out. Someone must recognise those two.

Still to come, Nikitta Grender was murdered last year while expecting

her first child. Her parents speak about their ordeal following the

loss of a daughter and granddaughter. We find out how

rogue traders persuaded an elderly couple to hand over thousands of

pounds. And he prayed with them, but he was not there to worship.

Help us track down the man who stole from a mosque. Time for some

dodgy deeds caught on CCTV. This one will really make you sick.

University College Hospital in London. Look at at hand gelled

dispenser. These men are showing a bizarre interest in it. It seems

they are trying to get it from the wall, possibly because it contains

alcohol. Eventually they get it, causing �500 worth of damage. If

you recognise these men, helped the police.

Next, we are in Norwich in February this year and a man barges into

convenience stores. He is brandishing what is possibly a

firearm covered with black material. He demands cash and he wants it now.

His voice is picked up by the camera. When he reaches over to the

tale, there is a number 72 on the sleeve of his top. Help police stop

this thief in his tracks. The kitchen of her hairdresser's in

Alderley Edge in Cheshire. 80s February but this man is not after

a short back and sides. He sneaked in to help himself to the handbags

of the staff. One, at two, three. The haul includes designer handbags,

cash and mobile phones. Who is he? If you recognise anyone or anything

in those videos, you know what you need to do. Now back to Nicola in

Newport. Early last year this city was

shaken to the core by the murder of a young pregnant woman, and it is

one of the more shocking cases I have ever come across. While the

police were working to track down the murderer, behind the scenes,

one of the key members of their team, the family liaison officer,

was supporting her parents. In February 2011, Nikitta Grender was

brutally raped and murdered before her house was set on fire. She was

due to give birth two weeks later. We will never deal with it.

Obviously it was mind-blowing. went along with the family liaison

officer, at Ian Hodgkinson, to need Nikitta's parents and find out

their story. The family liaison officers provide support to people

who have been affected by major crime as well as finding out what

they can from the family that could help the investigation. I am a

police officer, but I am still a father. It is a traumatic time.

was 19, in the prime of life, pregnant with her baby daughter.

But when police were called to Nikitta Grender's flat in February

last year, they found her in the burned-out bedroom. She and her

unborn baby were both dead. Immediately after the discovery of

her body, suspicions were raised that she may have been murdered.

How do you get called on to a particular investigation? On Sunday

morning, I had a call asking if I would attend. His first job was to

introduce himself to the parents of Nikitta. What were your first

impressions? My first impressions were I thought he was going to be

like a normal police officer, but he ended up being a pretty good

friend. How do you the, family liaison officer? It is something

you are asked to do and you put yourself forward to do. You are a

link between the investigating team and the family. You need to update

the family all the time. What did he do for you? He got to know us on

a personal level. He found out about us and other members of the

family that he meant. The role of a family liaison officer is not just

to offer emotional support during the terrible ordeal of having a

loved one taken away. It is to ensure that any information the

family has is passed on to the investigating officer. I needed

information very quickly as to what the family knew, I needed a

background history. I needed to know the day-to-day activities of

the victim because those things eventually lead us to the killer.

As the investigation continued, Nikitta's parents as to see Nikitta

and her unborn child. Unfortunately, because of the circumstances, it

was not possible for the family to see Nikitta. But they did get to

hold the child. It was very emotional. There was someone with

us. It stopped us from being on our own. Carl Whant, the cousin of

Nikitta's boyfriend, was arrested a few days into the investigation.

This was a dramatic turn in the investigation. He arrived the day

after her murder to deliver flowers, before the investigators knew he

was responsible. It was up to the family liaison officer to break the

news 2 Nikitta's parents. He must have had to tell you some

incredibly different things? He was more like a friend. The things he

was telling us seemed easier to accept. As the investigation ended,

the trial began and Ian Hodgkinson's will develop to

support Nikitta's parents through their continuing ordeal. To get the

support from the officer, so they can understand why some of these

things are happening. Rather than going in and not

knowing what to expect, we knew exactly what to expect. Carl Whant

was found guilty of murdering Nikitta Grender. The judge

described him as calculating and devious. 35 years, I will remember

that, but to me, it is not long enough. Once Carl Whant was sent to

prison, the family liaison officer's visits to the family were

less frequent. If someone wants to speak to me, they have got my phone

number and I am always contactable. We know if there is anything

playing on our minds, we can pick up the phone and chat with him.

his day-to-day life for you now? Terrible. You have to learn to live

with it. It is hard. People say you get over things. We are never going

to get over it. Family liaison officer Ian Hodgkinson joins me now.

At terrible experience for any key to's parents but clearly you

support was a comfort? I hope so. They have a long way to go. If we

help them through the early stages, hopefully we have done our job.

do you deal with having to be strong, to be constant for the

people you're working with? I work in an organisation with a large

team so there is support from within and they are always on hand

to give guidance. You work day-to- day in very difficult

circumstances? In it is a career I have chosen. I feel comfortable

doing the job, but ultimately it is the family we're concerned with.

What other kind of situations do you have to deal with? Whatever is

dictated by the investigating officers. They could be suicide, a

could be any death until we know the circumstances. We offer

assistance to the family through the investigation. I imagine that

often you have to break the news that a loved one has died? Yes. It

is something that is not expected and it is information that we have

to pass to the family. We have to be careful. It is hard for you as

well as the family's? It can be hard, but we are looked after a

very well and there is always someone on hand for us to speak to

if it is required. Thank you for joining us this morning.

Next, more on the story of a retired couple who were shocked to

find their driveway being dug up by a complete stranger. Here is what

happened next. Pensioners Maureen and Eric from near Newport had been

visited by a man who claimed he was from a paving company. He told

Derek that he could carry out some small repairs to the driveway and a

guarantee. The following Monday, 21st May, Maureen was in her home

cleaning when she heard a noise outside. When she came out she saw

another Mail on her driveway taking up the paving. I heard a noise

outside. I looked out if the kitchen door and there was a fellow

it on the driveway. He was just speeding up the driveway. Mrs James

was quite shocked. She had not expected anyone to be working on

her driveway. The man said that he would call his boss, and shortly

afterwards, Mr James returned home. There was a work man on the

driveway, taking up the paving. sorted it out and arranged it with

you. What is going on? I started talking to him and he got hold of

for the boss and told him that that he would come. The boss said that

he would be along shortly. When the boss turned up, Eric would be in

for a nasty shock. The simple cosmetic job they discussed was

spiralling out of control. He said, we have a problem, and we

will have to go deeper and build up and relaid the brakes on top of

that. -- and Lady paving on top of that. I kept asking him, how much

will it cost? He came up with a price of �4,500 and it has to be in

cash. They told aerate it had to be in cash so they could get the

building materials cheaper. There was just time for one last element

to this elaborate scam which would stop the couple getting suspicious.

The cement mixture -- the cement mixer turned up and it left quickly,

before it was used. It may have given the operation more

credibility. The couple went off to collect the cash and they were soon

back to hand over the cash. As honest people themselves, they

realised that as have the driveway had been lifted, the men were bound

to finish the work. At 12 o'clock, the work men were still here. My

wife and I told him that the money was here, what do you want done?

What is happening? He said, can you give the money to

the work men? I said, yes. I gave him the money, and he said, we will

be back later. The final part of the money -- the final part of the

scam, getting the money. The couple had handed over a sizable part of

their retirement fund. We thought they would go to the suppliers. We

thought they would collect the materials necessary and bring them

back and start the work. With �4,500 of the couple's money in his

pocket, the work man left to get the building materials on foot.

have not seen him since. When the builders had not returned after two

errors, the couple realised they had been scammed. -- two hours.

is a particularly nasty crime. The individuals involved have targeted

a couple who have worked hard all their lives. The problem is that

you believe people, you think they are honest, you believe what they

say and you accept it on face value. How could I have possibly have

fallen for such a stupid thing. I was livid about it. If I could get

hold of them, I would have I have Detective Inspector Justin

O'Keefe here with me now. This wasn't just work then doing a bad

job, was it, this was a crime. left in no doubt it was. I may let

the place in a mess. -- and they left the place in a mess. They were

�4,500 out of pocket as well as the cost of clearing up the mess.

left behind vital evidence, didn't they? The a did. They left items at

the scene. Mr James got them to sign a receipt, there were other

items recovered that we believe they have handled and those have

been explored for forensic opportunities. For DNA. If you get

to sample it means you can eliminate anybody we bring in who

is innocent. Correct. A any evidence this has happened

elsewhere? Thankfully we are lucky this is a rare event in Gwent. But

these things do go on around the country and we are looking to tried

to investigate as many opportunities and links as we can.

What advice can you give to people? Don't pay money upfront. If you are

getting work, get references and if you are unsure of the people

working for you, please ring. A betting shop in Dalston,

Northampton. A man props up his bike and comes inside, face covered.

He produces what witnesses say is looks like a barrel of a gun. No

joy the first time so he moves to the female cashier but no winnings

there, either. So he has no choice but to cut his losses and leave

empty handed. If you know this would-be thief take a punt and give

us a name. January last year, Sheffield community centre in

Stevenage, Hertfordshire. These to try to get in the front entrance

but fail. They have more success round the back. Once inside they

still some alcohol. But it is about to get nastier. When they come

across a woman who works there they let a fire extinguisher off in her

face. They won the keys to the safe. They don't get them and leave the

just the alcohol but these two must be Court. -- they want. If you

recognise these men, all their clothes, names please. April this

year in Suffolk. It is the dead of night. But it is not quiet for long.

Someone has stolen a bigger and is now driving at and 80 m on a bank

wall. The driver rams the ATM with considerable determination. Yes,

the police have been digging around but they still need information

about these heavy duty vandals. Now as you saw in that last CCTV clip

of those clowns smashing a JCB in to a bank, cash machines are real

magnets for criminals. And Nicola has some advice for you now on how

to keep yourself safe. There are 64,500 cash machines around the UK

As organised gangs go after your cash, we have got some advice for

you on how to avoid getting ripped off when you're getting some cash

out of the hole in the wall. I'm with Tony Blake who is from the

Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, a joint body of police and

banks that helps stamp out organised card and cheque fraud

across the UK. Good morning. We have our cash machine. What should

I look out for? Firstly using a cash machine is a safe thing to do

but sometimes criminals fit cameras above the pin pad. So make sure you

cover your pen properly, not just half covering it. Make sure you

cover it properly to get away from these cameras. There so I am

putting my card in the machine. We have a hidden camera in this

machine so you can see what the bad guys see, I suppose. How did I do?

Not too well. You half covered the PIN number, but my tip to people is

put your wallet or purse across it and then put your hand underneath.

The cameras will not pick it up. These cameras are hidden, you will

not see them. Don't look for the cameras, just make sure you cover

the PIN number properly with your wallet, or purse. Not with your

hand, they can still get your number. A what about the card?

Criminals can use an electronic device to get details from the

magnetic stripe on your card and the other way as they track the

Cardena machine so if your card does not come at it is possibly

been captured by a criminal. So make sure you have the phone number

of your bank so you can call them straight away before you leave the

machine. Once you have walked away the criminals take your card and if

they have your PIN number they can use it. Thank you. Really useful

device. Dave has a story now that shows that to some criminals

nothing is sacred. We need your help to catch a thief who targeted

a local mosque. One just up the road from here. A stranger turned

up to worship at the Central Newport mosque. He was welcomed

there by the people with open arms. Little could they have suspected he

was not just interested in worshipping. A designer of the

mosque. Everybody is welcome. everyone is welcome from all

different races. The doing this any place of worship is unacceptable.

By Saturday 19th May worshippers arrived at the Jam-e Masjid mosque

as usual for open prev. Worshippers paid little attention to this

newcomer as the mosque has an open- door policy. You trust people who

come here because it is a spiritual time. Sadly, they would remember

this particular stranger for the wrong reasons. Prayers had begun

but rather than join in the intruder slipped out of the few and

made his way downstairs -- view. He opened a back door, leaving it open,

police say the stranger clearly planned to return later. He then

headed upstairs and joined the other worshippers. Halfway through

prayers the other person came in, carried on praying as normal, but

His clothes to doubt a little bit compared to what people normally

wear here. He had a typical Arabian her dress, his face was obscured,

typical white robe that was when people wear. It stuck out a bit but

not in a negative way, just not normal here. Although an unfamiliar

face, the worshippers did not suspect that the stranger joining

them in prayer was simply taking advantage of their welcome. After

prayers the congregation left, leaving the Imam to lock the mask

as usual. Little did he know the back door was ajar, which would

make it easy for the stranger to get back in. Just 10 minutes later

CCTV picks up a man in the alleyway behind the mask. Although wearing

different clothes, police believe he is the same person who had

joined evening prayers are earlier. When he returned to the building it

is obvious he is aware of the CCTV cameras. We clearly Court and on

hour surveillance camera so we could see what he did. -- caught

him. It is hard not to see him coming in and out. The tries to

avoid it and goes to the top floor of the building. He spends about 18

minutes in the building looking around. He returns to the middle

floor of the building and commits the burglary. Out of sight of the

cameras the intruder set about breaking into the office. He broke

into a filing cabinet and still about �200. He also stole a small

mobile phone. The hats too late, he cut a CCTV camera cable while

making his escape. -- perhaps too late. It is pointless. We have him

for more than 20 minutes in the building before the burglary and

when he enters for the burglary again. Less than two hours later,

when the worshippers returned for evening prayers, they were dismayed

by what they found. The reaction was shock and horror. The you never

expected to happen in a place of worship. -- you never. You don't

expect somebody to come in and burgle the place, someone who

preyed next two. We don't believe he has been to the mosque before.

He is a stranger from the street. None of the other person's he used

the mosque recognise him. intruder left with more than a

phone and money, he took with him the trust of a once open community.

Sadly the mosque has been forced to review security and can no longer

leave their doors open. I have Yusuf Hall and Mujahida Ali who are

worshippers at the Mosque with me now. I suspect you feel betrayed?

Were do. He has betrayed a principle which is worse than

betraying a person, or people -- we do. He has also risk tarnishing our

society. You had the CCTV put in when you opened the mask, you are

glad about that now because you have vital evidence. The definitely.

It is the first time we have had to use it. We are delighted that the

results. Was there anything distinctive about this man? He was

very tall. His dress code was what you would see typically worn in the

Middle East which does not seem too common in the local area. Other

than that he fitted in well. turned up part-way through prayers,

is that normal? It is quite normal. People during prayers throughout

the duration. Has this made you more suspicious about welcoming

strangers to your Moscow? really. It defeats the object of

everything, we are an open Moss, we welcome anybody to come and worship.

-- mosque. You still welcome strangers. Let's hope we get a

Just an update... We have been getting names on the Waitrose

robbery and the men who conned the elderly couple out of thousands of

pounds. They did that by digging up their drive. A police officer has

got in touch with information on the man who stole from the Newport

mosque. So we had just heard from Dave they're speaking to the guys

from the mosque. That really encouraging. Thank you to everyone

who got in touch. What are you doing tomorrow? Were are moving on

to Swansea tomorrow. We will discover how police and scientists

are using advances in technology to help track criminals through these,

apparently shoe prints can be as unique as fingerprints and may have

been using them to get some convictions. And we out with the

officers clamping down on scrap- metal dealers. There are sure you

join us. So sounds good. -- make sure. That's it for today. Head to