Episode 2 Crimewatch Roadshow

This morning on Crimewatch Roadshow. Can you help us catch the last

robbers who terrified shop staff in Morning, and welcome to Crimewatch

Roadshow. All this month, we're on the front line with local police

forces, asking for your help to bring criminals to justice. Coming

up on today's programme.: Can you help us to track down a man who

launched a vicious assault on a local post man?

The private members' club in Chorley which has been firebombed

three times, we want to stop it happening again.

And we are in the thick of it with police officers policing a crucial

Premier League clash. Will the fans behaved or would it kick-off?

Out outside broadcasting is on the road covering crimes were you are.

Today they are still in the north west of England. In Lancashire.

Today's, they've moved on to Preston. Dave, you've got some

four-legged law enforcers for us. Yes, Rav. We're at Lancashire

Constabulary's HQ today, with their mounted branch, where these

magnificent horses will be put through their paces for us. I am

with the police horse of the year, with a deep, dark secret. We will

see them being put through their paces. I am also joined by a BBC

North West reporter Jacey Normand. Those horses are amazing. But,

before we see more of them, let's get on with today's first appeal.

These days, shops are open all hours, and staff at a SPAR shop in

Walmer Bridge in Preston were already settling into their shift

when thugs paid them an early morning visit.

Liverpool Old Road, in Preston. At this local SPAR shop, the employees

have had an early start and are about to be put through a

terrifying ordeal because these men haven't got up for an early start

at work. They have much more sinister plans for the day.

It was unreal. Get to the back of the stalk! It looked as if you're

watching a film. It became very I think they are cowardly in the

way they have targeted staff who cannot put up a fight. Just after

6:30am. The staff at this SPAR shop in Preston are getting ready for

another day's work. It was dark, February, it was a cold and frosty

morning. And it was quiet. I think I had only had two customers. It

was 6:45am. I opened up and started doing all the jobs, the magazines

and newspapers. Get to the back! Sudden the, two men burst in. The

first was holding a bag, the second is armed with a wooden bat.

shouted, get to the back. At first, it didn't feel real. I turned

around and when I saw them, with a baseball bat, I thought, best do

what I am told. I was around the far side of the shop and I heard

shouting. I looked over and I saw a youth in a grey who do with a

baseball bat. And then the shouting, I realised it really was a robbery.

The employees are told to get to the back, and they run towards the

office. I started to run to the back, with my hands behind my head.

I thought I would get hit with a baseball bat. The first robber

leapt over for the cigarettes. The lads go into the office and locked

themselves inside. While the thieves get on with the job, they

had no idea the employees are one step ahead of them. As soon as we

got into the office, we pressed the panic button to get in touch with

After we pressed the panic button, we realised we did not know where

she was. They are desperately worried, she is still hiding out in

the shop on her own. It didn't seem as if it was happening, happening

to somebody else. I was trying to think what to do. The thieves have

no idea she is still in the shop, close by. I remember thinking, what

should I do? I had better get help. That was going through my mind,

what should I do? With the thieves in full control of the shop, she is

left facing an impossible decision. Dutch EC states or make a run for

it to get help? -- does she stake in the shop? Very frightening. You

can see what decision Ann made later in the programme. Now, time

Let's give this man, Stuart Andrew Edwards, a birthday to remember.

He's 37 today. Edwards failed to appear in court, on offences under

the Firearms Act, and threatening to kill. A warrant has been issued

for his arrest. He's known to have connections to the Lancashire area,

and has a four-inch appendix scar on the right side of his stomach.

Our next two faces are connected. This man, Anthony Keith Smith, and

Karen Smith or Karen Poole as she's sometimes known. Both were arrested

in September 2008, in connection with the production of cannabis,

and obtaining electricity illegally. But both failed to answer their

bail, and have been missing ever since. They are known to have

family in East Sussex, Hampshire, Essex and Spain. Please let us know

if you've seen them. Our next wanted face goes under a

number of different names, Raja Majeed Ali is also known as Majeed

Hussein, Ameer Malik, and Bail Meetara. He was convicted of theft

in 2009, and is now wanted on a prison recall for breaching his

parole licence. If you recognise any of these faces,

Text CW, space, and then your message. And please, leave the

space, or your message won't get All the Wanted Faces are on our

website. Now back to Dave in Preston. Dave,

you've got a story of terrifying random attack.

Yes, Rav. We take our postmen and women for granted sometimes. Day in,

day out, they're out delivering our mail, come what may. But for one

postie, the violent attack he was to endure whilst out on his rounds

was certainly not in the line of duty.

When this post manned went about his daily rounds, he couldn't have

dreamt his shift would end in such a brutal and violent way. Because,

a few minutes from now, he will be viciously beaten in an unprovoked

attack by a stranger. He was a mad man. The level of violence was

extreme, he used a weapon to hit someone around the head. It is a

miracle he doesn't have more serious injuries. Newchurch-in-

Pendle is home to the infamous witch trials of the 17th century.

Now a location of pure Serenity. Tim Bennett has been delivering

post in this area for five years. A familiar face, locals know and

trust him. On 8th February, a man walking through this country road

was to forever changed the way he would feel about this peaceful

village. It was very icy and cold. I had to be more careful driving

because of the road conditions. As I was driving down a farm track to

deliver to the house, I noticed a person on the righthand side on the

track as I was driving. Like many country roads, the service was

uneven and water had collected in the pot holes. As I passed, I went

through a puddle and splashed him because it was full of water. As I

drove up towards the farm to deliver the mail, I got out of my

vehicle. The man shouted over that I had splashed him. You just

splashed me. Sorry. He carried on walking and I saw him pick

something from the floor. That is when his world was turned upside

down. Sorry. The man had picked up a rock and moved quickly towards 10

who was confused. What happened next was truly shocking. The man

started viciously smashing the rock into his head over and over again.

It happened that quickly. Obviously, you try to defend yourself. Later

in the programme, find out how he broke free from this savage beating

and discover how you can help catch this man. Still to come on today's

Crimewatch Roadshow. Both teams face relegation at this

high-tension match so can the police keep the fans under control?

We need your help to track down a walker who saw red when he saw the

village post man. And, this club has been firebombed

three times. Police want to track down the people responsible.

We've got some other criminals caught on camera we need your help

to catch. Twyford their way station, Christmas last year, and this man

is just hanging around and hanging around. Before making his move.

Then he leaves with two bicycles which do not belong to him. One is

a child's bicycle, talk about Christmas spirit. Do you know him?

Then call us. Next, another busy day at Heathrow

airport. You might miss this, it happens so fast we will show it

again. Spot the disappearing back on the back of the trolley. Help

police to catch this bag snatcher. January this year in Middlesex. It

must be cold outside judging by that bid overcoat. These men seem

particularly interested in one laptop and spend time playing with

it. But when they pick it up, we see what they have really been

playing at his disconnecting it from the display. We also find out

what that big coat is for as the laptop goes inside it. Let us see

that again. If you have any data on these men, you know what to do.

That's just the kind of everyday crime that affects us all. So come

on, if you recognise any of these people featured in our footage, you

know what to do. Phone: 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].

Not a bad result for England the last night. We're spoilt for choice

here in the north west, with more than our fair share of top class

football. With all those big matches, police here have to be

ready for anything. Can I have your attention? The last day of the

Premiership season and Inspector Gary Crowe is briefing his officers

for a crucial match in Blackburn. 8pm kick-off, a category A fixture.

The importance of this game cannot be under estimated. It is the last

football weekend of the season and 25,000 fans are expected, with

3,000 of them supporting the away team, Wigan. The stakes are high,

whoever loses faces relegation. are acutely aware emotions are

running very high today with Blackburn Rover fans and Wigan fans.

It is a bad holiday, so people have had more of a chance to make a day

of it. Whichever team eventually made get relegated as a result of

today's fixture, we could see an adverse reaction. When it comes to

managing crowds and public safety, Garrick is in charge and is making

sure there is nothing to be that the police can't handle. He works

with a number of specialist They work with evidence gatherers.

We use cameras to capture any incidents kicking off. Mounted

officers control crowds if things get out of hand and dog-handlers.

We open the back doors of the ban we let people know the dogs are

here. Once we get authorisation, we would deploy the dogs. We would

escalate a deployment where police dogs are used. There is a

possibility that people could be bitten by a police dog. Police

Inspector Julian Platt is overseeing the whole operation.

Police need to make sure that everyone attending the fixture are

safe. That is the number one priority on every game. On the

streets can attention is already mounting. There are calls about a

classing in a local pub. It does appear that supporters from both

sides have been involved in a practice inside. A couple have

received very minor injuries. They have received ambulance treatment

and will go to hospital. It is not serious. Police are not only

concerned about rivalry, they are also worried about a home Blackburn

fans who are unhappy with the way the club is managed. So far the

fans have been protesting peacefully throughout the season.

If the team is relegated to day, these already unhappy fans can make

their voices known. -- today. fans could make their feelings

known. There are no organised protests. I think it will be

spontaneous. As the rain sets in, things become grain for the fans of

Blackburn Rovers. Four minutes of extra-time and Wigan have scored a

goal. We're now expecting quite an adverse reaction from the Blackburn

Rovers fans, both towards Wigan and probably towards the club and

management. We are on a high state of alert, watching for potential

situations of conflict. With the final whistle blown, Chief

Inspector Platt is pleased with the way things have gone in the stadium.

There have been several issues during the game. We have had the

Thames of pitch incursions, people trying to go on to the pitch. --

attempts. Inflatables have been thrown around. Even a chicken

released onto the pitch. Outside, there are moments of tension as

fans gather. Police are at work to manage the crowds was dug we have

put a police cordon on. -- the crowds. The number of fans slowly

began to dissipate. We have tried to D escalate the situation by

removing police officers. Fans have tended to dissipate of their own

free will. As the bank holiday draws to an end and the Crown sleep

peacefully, the police decide to call it a day. -- crowds leave

peacefully. We have been kept very busy. A would not have liked to

have tried to do the operation with less staff. It has been a

successful evening. We saw some of the horses in that film. This is

where they are trained. Joining me now is PC Adam Pearson from the

Mounted Unit. They are going to do a training exercise. What are they

doing? We are going to try to recreate an incident. There are

rioters and protesters and bodies. By other bodies there? If a member

of the public or a rioter goes down, what a police officer goes down, we

stand over them so what they are not injured any further. Other

officers can cumin and extract them from the area. These are big

animals. They are. Some way three- quarters of a tan. How much

training to they have to go through? They come in for a three-

month trial. For 18 months afterwards, they build up training.

Presumably they have to be of a certain temperament. We get in 20,

30 horses a year. A lot of them go back because they do not make the

grade. We're looking for something very specific. We saw them throwing

tennis balls a few moments ago. There was smoke coming out. Is it

cruel to horses? We are aiming them on the floor to try to recreate

items like bricks being thrown. We are trying to make it a game for

the horses. Police officers are well protected in these situations

and so are the horses. They have got eye shields, knows guards and

protection for their legs. That protects them from coins, bottles,

big hands. How long can make go one doing this for? -- beer cans.

can be around for six or seven hours, as long as it takes really.

Where do you get them from? It is very much like a horse eBay. We go

around the internet and have a loop and feed them and ride them and

bring them in for a three-month trial. How much service would they

do on average? Normally they retire between 18 and 22 and go to the

benevolent front. They do have a nice retirement? They do. Early we

met the police force of the year. He does not like pantomime donkeys.

-- earlier we met the police horse of the year. Thank you very much

indeed. We have had a very strong lead on one of Our Wanted Faces. As

a result of your information, police are looking into new lines

of inquiry. Following the CCTV we showed a big bag being stolen from

Uxbridge Library, we had a number of strong leads, including possible

names. CCTV of thieves who stole a bag from where the mummers in

Westminster. Do keep your calls, texts and the mouse coming in. They

really can make a difference. -- e- mails. Now back to the story of a

raid in a store in Preston. 6:45am and this SPAR shop in Preston has

opened was a two mast these burst in through the doors. Threatening

the employees with a bat, they wanted to get their hands on

hundreds of pounds of cigarette. cigarettes. It was very real very

quick. They managed to raise the alarm. Police, please. Two miles.

What weapons did they have? 19, 20, tops. I did not know where and

macro was. -- Anne macro was. thieves had no idea that another

shop worker was in the store and had seen the robbery taking place.

I can remember standing there thinking, what should I do? I had

better try to get help. That was going through my mind - what should

I do? She decided she had to get out of the store to find help. The

thieves were feet away and it would not be easy. I was thinking, as

long as they do not know I am here, I can get help. She bravely started

to creep down the aisle towards the door, knowing that these could see

her at any moment. I was sort of trying to keep out of the way so

they would not see me. I was worried. If I went around the

shelves, they might see me. I knew if I could get to the door I could

get out without them seeing me. With no consideration for her own

safety, she checked the coast was clear and ran out of the store to

get help. The thieves were so busy they do not know to she has left

the shop. I was waving and a lady did stop. I said, there is a

robbery, call the police. She did. Back in the store, the thieves are

stocked up on cigarettes and of getting ready to make their escape.

We did everything right. We pressed the panic button and rang the

police and told them we were getting robbed. The thieves fled it

out of the store and make their getaway. It was a relief to know

that no one got hurt. It must only have been two or three minutes.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion. It is when you start to

shake. I think I was going to burst into tears. Thank goodness it is

all over. They leave the store to look for Ann. She is safe and well.

All three employees have been traumatised by this ordeal. I would

like to catch them, predominantly to bring closure and the peace of

mind to staff who have been affected. If we can do that,

hopefully, it will make them rest easier and get on with day-to-day

business. When you are putting people in danger, it is not

acceptable. For anyone involved in an armed robbery, it affects you in

a similar way. It will always be there with you. Ann has a message

for the thieves. Is it worth it? You presume people have a

conscience. Stop now before you to injure somebody. -- you injure

somebody. It was a terrifying ordeal. Joining me is Detective

Sergeant Ian Derbyshire. How can our viewers' help you? It is really

to appeal to anyone who might have been offered different brands of

cigarettes at cheap prices. This might be something where someone

was in a pub and been offered them. Pubs, clubs, that is probably what

we are looking at. People should let us know about it. The men

involved had masks on. They'll both white. One is six foot one, the

second one about 5 ft 9. The taller one is distinctive. His jacket is

easily recognisable. It is probably important to point out that one of

the members carrying a rounders bat and the huge laundry bag. If anyone

We have already brought you horses today and I have got myself a dog.

This is Max. Not only is he good looking, he has a hidden talent.

How do you and Max work together? Max is trained to find drugs and

mobile phones. I can understand drugs. It is the big problem.

Mobile phones, they do not smell? Not to us. For the dogs, it is

another cent. Given this is a family show, where is the strangest

place Max has sniffed out a mobile phone? Inside the DVD player.

done! I would love to see Max in action. We have hidden a mobile

phone here and we will see if he can sniff it out so you can show

him at work. Do your worst! I know there is a very interesting story

about how you actually met. Max was rescued from an Irish puppy farm.

He was due to be put down the next day. He was going to be used

against. You arc indicating areas you want him to search. -- you are

indicating. A lot of attention to the back. Is this how he would do

the indication? Let's have a look in the bag. He has found the phone.

What alert about that was, you just threw a tennis ball to him. That is

what he dares it fog. He things he has found that. -- he does it for.

He does this all for a little toy. He has no idea about the importance

of what he is doing. None whatsoever. Well done! What a star!

You have not only earned to a tennis ball, there are some treats

in the Green Room. You have earned that. Now it is time to go over to

Thanks, Rav. Police here really need your help to identify a sex

offender they say is dangerous and reckless. They believe he's exposed

himself more than 20 times to women and girls across Lancashire. A

number of the offences were at a park in Penwortham, near Preston.

One of his victims has been brave enough to talk to us. She's just 15.

We're not revealing her identity for legal reasons. We saw a man

wearing a jogging outfit. He walked to one side. That happened to be

the way we were walking. Then, we saw him again. This time, he was

carrying his clothes, he wasn't actually wearing them. I didn't

know what was going through his mind at the time. It was certainly

quite scary. That girl is only 15 which is why we concealed her

identity. Joining me now is Detective Sergeant John Entwisle.

That's a very disturbing incident for a young girl. Talk us through

what's been happening in the park, that's Hurst Grange Park, isn't it.

He is appearing, naked. In many cases, he has a T-shirt or cap on

his head. A balaclava on one occasion. Is he saying anything to

these people? He is not, he is mainly exposing himself. This sort

of incident can have a profound effect on the victim. This teenager

told us how it left her feeling. I felt shaken up at first. I had to

go home. I felt sick really. I feel angry that he feels he can do this.

It is not right. I don't think it is safe to go out there any more.

Deeply unsettling for her and many other victims. You believe he may

have done this in other parts of the country. We believe his

activities may go back as far as 2005, at High Wycombe, in

Buckinghamshire. We believe he indecently exposed himself to women,

and left his clothes behind. We believe he's now in his forties.

You've got some clothes he left behind, following that incident in

Hurst Grange Park. He's left some very distinctive clothes behind.

This is very valuable evidence for us. We can see a picture of those

clothes now. Describe them for us. Very distinctive, very noticeable.

You have DNA from this clothing. If someone has suspicions, it is easy

to eliminate them. How long do believe he has been doing this?

Back to 1996. Remember, police can eliminate suspects immediately,

because they have that DNA. You can contact us. The numbers are on the

screen. Or you can Crimestoppers anonymously.

Time for some more people up to no good on CCTV.

It is nearly 1am in Leicester, February, this year. Watch, as

demand sex right to a banner hanging from a mosque. Let us see

that again. The ballot was Hong to celebrate the birthday of the

Prophet Mohammed. It has upset the local community. If you know

anything about this man, turn him They EXT, January this year, 5:30am

in Wembley, London. This cheeky person is trying to get into this

car. It isn't locked and he is in. He looks around inside but only

finds �10. Maybe he will have more luck at the back. A quick check the

coast is clear, but no luck. The police want to talk to this man,

give them a hand. The last one for now, of Wandsworth

in London, November last year. This cyclist is caught on camera. He

cycles past this vintage silver car, then returns with a rock to smash

the window. When he doesn't succeed, he takes off. But then he is back,

this time, the windows smashers, and he looks inside. If you know

this Farndell, call us. -- this vandal.

If you've got any information, we Now back to Preston, and Jacey's

got another appeal. Thanks, Rav. Next, we're featuring

a series of attacks on a club in Chorley. DI Paul Rudd from

Lancashire Constabulary is investigating these incidents. Tell

us a bit about these attacks. have been a number of serious arson

attacks on the No 3 Club, which is a private members club, on Friday

Street in Chorley. The first attack took place on the 21st November

last year, just before 1am in the morning. There are four men on

Friday Street. And you can see the flash of what looks like cigarette

lighters. It even looks like they're turning their backs to the

wind, as they struggle to light something. That sudden flash is a

firework that the offender drops outside the club, before it

explodes. He and his mates then run back in the direction they came

from. Was there anyone in the club at the time, was anybody hurt?

Thankfully not. The fire service were on scene within minutes, so

there wasn't too much damage But this is not an isolated incident,

is it? There was an attack on 22nd February. And then a further attack

in March of this year. Defenders appeared to be 16-18 years old, in

that instant in March. That looks like a petrol bomb. The attack

happened much earlier in the evening, at about 8.45. You can see

the flash, as the first offender lights what we believe to be a

petrol bomb. And, unbelievably, he seems to set fire to himself. But

that's no deterrent, as the flames clear he positions himself, ready

to throw the fire bomb. It's hard to believe the offender wasn't

seriously hurt as that firebomb flared up. The club is based

winners' club. -- swingers club. Yes, some of the locals may have

found offence against it. This is an Newchurch-in-Pendle,

situated in Lancashire. But a terrible and brutal attack on

February 8th this year has been unsettling to those who live and

work in this idyllic spot. I was shocked it could happen. I didn't

know what to do. The level of violence used was extreme, he used

a weapon to hit someone around the head and it is a minor miracle he

doesn't have more serious injuries. This is all because a village

postman accidentally splashed a walker with a puddle. Bob Walker

became extremely angry. I was trying to defend he was very strong.

Tim managed to grab the man's arm and he dropped the stone, but the

attack didn't stop. The man tried to gouge out his eyes. He used his

nails. The man suddenly stopped, ending the attack as suddenly and

unpredictably as it had begun. did you do that, or you stupid!

He changed, to being a child being told off, as if he realised what he

had done. It was a splash of a puddle, why

did you do that! He was like a mad man. Then the man

walked away as if nothing had happened. What was that for?

For I was shocked that it could happen. I didn't know what to do.

Fortunately for Tim, a community like this does have good Samaritans

and a woman from the nearby farm came to his aid. I was very

grateful to that person who phoned the police. It is very important we

catch this man. It has happened in the middle of the day. Tim was out

earning his living, he was attacked, for the simple reason of being

slashed. Tim was able to give the police have a good description of

the man, and this has been released. In shows a man who hasn't really

any distinguishing features on his face. Quite close shaven hair. Tim

says it is the eyes he will never forget. I am more wary now, if I am

driving somewhere and there is a puddle, I know it sounds silly.

More respectful to people walking. Since the attacker walked away from

Tim, the police have had no leads, so now they need your help in

tracking him down. Angry that he got away with it, and we added and

keep hold of him. But, when there is blood running down your head,

you don't think about that. Joining me now is DS Nick Hodgeson.

This was a particularly brutal attack. You're keen to talk to

anyone who might have seen him on that day, February 8th. We've got a

map of the route he took here. a popular route, just off Wellhead

Road in Newchurch-in-Pendle. DAVE. Newchurch-in-Pendle is about six

miles from Burnley. You've got an EVOFIT of the man. He is white,

about 50 or 60. He was wearing a dark coloured top, with a rucksack,

possibly in Walker. And it unprovoked attack. Why would

someone do that? Somebody may have anger management problems. Going

through difficulties in their life. Even someone with learning

difficulties. There's quite a lot to go on there. If you know

anything at all police really need to catch this man. Back to you Rav.

A quick update. Thence to everyone who has got in touch. Don't forget

our lines are open all day. We have had some interesting phone calls on

Wanted Faces, this couple, Anthony Smith and Karen Smith. They failed

to answer bail after being arrested in connection with cannabis

production. We are passing those calls on to the police.

That's just about all for today. Dave and Jacey, where are you going

to be tomorrow? This is the time of year when we

like to spend a bit more money on our gardens. But a well-stocked

garden or shed is heaven for a green-fingered criminal. We'll be

in a garden centre near Chorley tomorrow, finding out about how to

protect your property. And we'll hear a troubling tale

about a man who looks like Sean Connery, but who's certainly no

James Bond. Let's hope it's dried up before

then. See you tomorrow. Rav. Thank you, both.

For more details about the crimes on today's programme, go to:

bbc.co.uk/crimewatchroadshow. Finally, we'll leave you with