Episode 8 Crimewatch Roadshow

Today it on Crimewatch Roadshow: The crook who went on a thieving

spree but forgot all about the Hello and welcome to Crimewatch

Roadshow. We are live and on air every week day for the next three

weeks. Police asking for your help to catch criminals committing

crimes which blight lives up and down the country. On the programme

today, police want to find the thieves who smashed their way into

Whitchurch to steal their precious antique silver. -- into a church.

We are out on patrol with the traffic cops, clamping down on

drink-driving on the roads of Sussex.

Do you know this brazen thief? He spent hours choosing his mood at a

charity warehouse in Rye. The Roadshow team is travelling the

country investigating crimes happening where you are. Today is

the last day in Sussex and you are by the seaside today, Dave. Is the

sun shining? The sun is already cracking the flags here in Brighton

and it has only gone 9:15am! By lunchtime, the beach will be full

of people. We are going to look at what the police are doing to cut

crime on the seafront and BBC South East's Colin Campbell has more.

We'll be seeing what the police are doing to tackle bicycle Thieves. We

will be finding a what they use this for later in the programme.

But first, to the historic town of Rye, which is home to a charity

that helps teenagers struggling in school. Those teenagers have been

left devastated by not one but two burglaries. The entertainment

workshops in Rye are working hard to give kids who do not do well in

school a second chance. People give their time and money for freezer

young teenagers can get their lives back on track. The charity was set

up primarily to help young people to actually proceed into the

entertainment business. If the truth is, I never really got on

with school. Never really got on with it. Always in trouble. Coming

here, they give you time and tell you that you are good at things.

They give you chances to try things. But all that work took a knock in

November when thieves broke into the charity and made off with

�18,000 worth of equipment. The insurance company paid out but the

premium was raised, and then it was not just about the money. On those

computers and PCs and cameras, there was an awful lot of these

young people's work. It was horrid. They were distraught because their

work had gone missing. Despite the setback, they all worked together

to get the charity back on its feet, and just a month later, days before

Christmas, they celebrated with an end-of-term party. We had a great

time. We had video-games, food, soft drinks. And everybody had a

jovial mood. We were getting a huge community spirit back again.

students and staff headed home at around 6pm. Shaun stayed behind to

make sure everything was locked. The last thing he wanted was

another burglary. When everything was locked up I calorie assume we

were being closely watched by the person -- I can only assume that we

were being watched by the person from the adjacent industrial estate.

But Christmas was definitely not come in early for this charity.

Just weeks after the first burglary it was about to be hit again. This

man, picked up by CCTV, is no Father Christmas. He is working out

how to break in. He spends quite a lot of time outside and he can be

seen lifting a pothole and smashing the security light, and it takes in

a couple of hours to break into the building. He has gone through a

window, which caused considerable damage as he entered the property.

With the light smashed comedy with and a burglar would be in a hurry

to get the job done, but not this cool customer. He forces his way in

through the barred window but as soon as he enters, he is in for a

nasty surprise. Then he gets camera-shy. You can see he looks

straight at the CCTV camera pointing in the direction of his

entry. He goes up to try to disable it but then you go to clear view of

his face, so he knows somebody must know him. He eventually decides it

is time for action but he is in no Russia. Here he is, systematically

stealing expensive computers and cameras. This is equipment it has

taken the charity months of fund- raising to buy. He was outside for

that an hour trying to get in but he was in no hurried inside.

season of goodwill is now well and truly ruined for the charity. This

thief has stolen Christmas. Fat that is as bare-faced as you

will get and we will have more on that brazen thief later on. If you

already recognise him, we need to hear from you.

Now time to hear from -- see some dodgy deeds caught on camera.

April Fools' Day, but what is about happen is no joke. It is a service

station in Rossendale, Lancashire, and these men are asked to change

�160 worth of notes into coins. Whilst the assistant crouches down

to sort it out, a man leans over the counter and grabs a cashbox. At

�200 has just been emptied from the till in to it. If tell us who they

are so they do not get away with falling any body else.

This train is travelling between Putney and Mortlake in May last

year. After two men get on the -- two women get on, this man stands

behind them. As the train approaches the station, he makes a

grab for one of the women before he leaves the train. He should not be

allowed to get away with this. Tell us who he is.

Next, a bike shop in Croydon. July last year. A customer is showing a

lot of interest in a bygone display. He then moves away to have a look

through the catalogue. -- interest in a bike on display. He comes back

and fiddles with the bike. He gets it loose and we'll sit pass the

shop assistants and through the door. They gave chase but because

he is on two wheels, he gets away. If you recognise him, give us a

call. Those of a kind of everyday crimes

being committed up and down the country. If you recognised anything

in those clips, you know what you need to do. This is our number. You

can send us a text as well. Leave a space between the number and the

message. If you don't, the message will not get through.

Dave? Thank you. When it is bathed in sunshine on a day like this, the

front pit in Brighton looks marvellous. But even here there is

crime. Dave is a police and Community Support Officer. What

sort of problems to face? Unfortunately, the biggest issues

are in relation to theft. A large percentage takes place in the

night-time economy - the pubs and clubs. People are intoxicated and

leaving their things around. People are not taking the security

seriously. Biking is very popular. Bike theft is also a big issue for

you. You have a secret weapon. What is this? This is the Sussex Police

bait bike. It has got a tracking device hidden somewhere on it. We

lock it up as we would a normal bike and lead it and wait for the

alarm. You wait for somebody to try and steal it? And when they do,

Lizzie steps in. If this is a digital tracking receive. It uses

state-of-the-art GPS technology. It tracks the spike anywhere across

the world to within one centimetre. Anywhere across the world? Yes.

we could be in Lewes, Llandudno, anywhere! Has it worked? Have you

been able to catch people in the act? We have had lots of really

good results in Brighton. One in particular was last summer, web of

the bike was stolen on the other side of the city and within half an

hour, we managed to track it back. The man was taken into custody.

must have been quite shocked? His face was quite shocked.

you're looking for somebody to steal the spite? Yes, but we have

got it locked up quite securely using a decent lock, and there we

leave it alone. We don't monitor it. We just wait for the alarm to go

off. Even when you lock your back- up, there are still those

determined thieves who will get it? -- clock your bike up? Yes. We

encourage people to double lock and to use a Darlton have to lock and

another lot on the front. And you have to do all Buchan to protect

your property? -- all you can. Thank you very much indeed. In this

lovely weather it might be tending to hop into way car and drive out

to a country pub, which is why police forces are using this time

of year to run anti- drink-drive campaigns. I have been out with

offices in Sussex. It is a warm summer evening and

many are enjoying a drink after work. But for these two officers,

the shift will be spent looking out for drink-drivers. In a hot weather,

people have finished work and it is a social thing to do after work,

have a drink, and that leads to another and another. People want to

go somewhere warm, sit outside, maybe a country pub. In order to

get there, you have to drive, and in the spirit of having a good time

they might have one too many and then drive home. We deal with road

death and one of the contributing factors is some sort of impairment

in a person's system. And a lot of the time, with the impairment is

the alcohol which is more common. He is Sussex last year, almost one

in five fatal collisions was ajar, or-related. -- in Sussex. -- was

alcohol-related. We have seen somebody drinking from a bottle of

beer as he is driving along. He has passed over this road so we are

going to see if we can catch up with him and do a breath test on

the driver. We have in 10 minutes, the car is in sight. This is a car

straight ahead of us. We're just going to wait for an appropriate

place and then we will be pulling it over and speaking to the driver.

This is the first motorist to be Paul Dover this evening. Police get

their intelligence from a number of sources. -- to be pulled over.

have seen you drinking beer in the front seat of a car. I am going to

need a specimen of breath for analysis. Even if he had not been

over the limit, the driver would have been distracted by drinking at

the wheel. The officers suspect he has been drinking recently. He has

to wait and a police car for 20 minutes so any alcohol he has had

can into his system. Then it is time for him to blow into the

breathalyser. If the result is positive, he could face a ban for a

year. I am going to hold on to this, so deep breaths, and when you are

ready, blowhard. Stop. Thank you. Take the tube off the end there...

You have passed. Be very careful and do not drink any more on your

journey. OK. Why is it a risky thing to do? He had three friends

in the car and he was disregarding their safety and drinking whilst

driving. The certainly will not be the team's last encounter with

alcohol tonight. -- this certainly. They join the team in Brighton for

roadside checks. We are doing a big cheque in Preston part in Brighton.

This is the first lovely sunny day we have had in months! So I think

people will be drinking this afternoon either in their homes or

in pub gardens. I would like to hope they will not drink-drive but

we are likely to find somebody. If we will be back with the traffic

cops later. First, though, it is time for our Wanted Faces. It is

different today. These are wanted from Northern Ireland. Before we

get into the detail, Inspector Jon Burrows from the Police Service in

Northern Ireland is going to tell us a bit more about Operation

Relentless. Tell us what you are doing? For the operation was

launched in 2011 and it is designed to attract people down who have not

appeared in court but for an arrest warrant has been issued. We are

determined to track them down and bring them to justice. He pioneered

this and you're very passion about -- a -- you pioneered this and you

are very passionate about it? are people who are persistent

offenders across the country. Burglaries, assaulting people very

by an -- violently in public. We need to make sure we bring these

people before the court to stop crimes being committed. We are not

talking about rapists and murderers. You onto the volume crime that

Young children can't sleep at night. There is a sense of violation. We

have people being violently assaulted which traumatise his

people. People with injuries, they are left disfigured and it affects

the quality of life. We want to reduce crime in Northern Ireland

and make it a safer place for everybody. 350 arrests already

pulled up let's make it more. They are actually looking for to wonder

people so let's see if we can help them with their next four for the

Brian Maxwell is wanted with a number of offences including two

accounts of assaulting a police He allegedly bit off part of

another man's ear for the very unpleasant. He has connections to

Londonderry and speaks what a Derry accent. Neil O'Brien, burglar,

theft of a motor vehicle and drink- driving. The police really need

your help to find him. He has connections with Derry and County

Donegal. Where is he now? This is Thomas mallet and wanted for 5

counts of burglary. He also has connections to Derry and speaks

with a Derry accent and the last one for today, Steven Patrick

wanted for car crime. He was arrested and charged but failed to

appear at court and has been on the run. He has a scar on his left

eyebrow and speaks with a County Tyrone accent. We need to track

these men down. If you recognise any of those faces get in touch on

Still to come. The precious silver stolen from a Brighton church. The

community is devastated and the police want answers. And how well

our traffic cops get on with a drink-driving crackdown as night

falls in Brighton? Let's go back to Brighton. When a criminal is sent

to prison you may think that for the victim that is the last they

hear of them. But increasingly there are moves to bring the

victims face to face with the person who committed the crime

against them. It is called restorative justice. Rachel, tell

us about your burglary. We had some gold jewellery stolen from my house.

When the man was caught, he admitted four burglaries and 39

other offences and you were offered the chance to meet him. Why did you

say yes? When we spoke to the police and he said he wanted to

make different choices and stop offending, we thought people

deserve a second chance and if we can explain the impact of his

offence on us, it might make a difference. What was the meeting

like? We met him at the prison, seven of us. And it was very

emotional. A lot of emotions from both sides and anger but, at the

end of it, a feeling that people wanted him to make the right

decisions and get the support he needed. When your house has broken

into, you must have felt angry but did that changed once you'd spoken

to him? Yes, he was extremely remorseful. As soon as he was

arrested he told a breeze where he had taken my jewellery, and the key

piece which was most sentimental to me was retrieved and I got it back.

This is a locket which belonged to your grandmother. Great sentimental

value, and because the co-operate with the breeze, they were able to

retrieve it. Absolutely. You would recommend other people to do this?

Yes, for closure and to make a difference. Rachel, thank you very

much. How often do victims come face-to-face with their offenders?

In West Sussex we have run of four of these meetings. Three are

prolific burglars and one is a repeated violent crime offended. --

offender. We have to make sure it doesn't affect the victim and make

sure the perpetrator is remorseful. For the victim, it seeks closer.

Speaking to the offenders, seeing what they look like a rather than

having that image in your head and then work know what they did with

the property. What is in it for the offender? It is done after

sentences. For them, we are trying to rehabilitate them. We can't look

the same people up each time and we have to give people the opportunity.

It also looks at reduction in crime. Can they get a lighter sentence?

it is done after sentencing. Thanks very much. But now it's over to

Dave. Thanks, St Georges Georgeham Brighton is a hub of the community

in Kemp Town, so when thieves broke in ironically on St George's Day,

April 23rd, the congregation was Some years ago, when I was a bit

younger, we could leave this church open and nobody was looking after

it, knowing nothing would be stolen but you can't do that anymore.

think it's really sad that the Church's Trust has been betrayed.

St Georges Church in Brighton has been a haven of peace for nearly

200 years. It's a really special place. Over a week, we had

something like 2000 people passing through the building. We have the

church and congregation. Dog- walking ribs, support groups for

people in recovery from alcoholism and drug abuse. -- walking groups.

But the piece of the church was brutally shattered one night in

April this year. We believed to people broke into the church. They

used crowbars to gain entry through one of the main front doors causing

quite a lot of damage to that door. They then use the crowbars on an

internal door. When they came into this area of the church, they used

a crowbar to smash the Cabinet behind me which contained a large

quantity of silverware which had been with the Church for several

hundred years. Much of it was bequeathed to the church by Queen

Adelaide, the wife of William the 4th. She was crowned Queen in 1831

and used to worship there. Adelaide silver was part of the

history of this place, very much a visible sign of what used to be

happening and something people could come into and show their

friends and show that they are part of a living, continuing history.

These days, churches hide their treasures away but so endured as

did not want to do that. We decided a long time ago that that was not a

good idea. We wanted to use these pieces in the liturgy but also to

have them visible so people could come and see them. The silver was

valued in 1970 as being worth around �13,000. It is likely to

have more than doubled by now. But, for the church, it's worth far more

than that. The real loss is not anything to do with money at all.

It really is to do with the fact that people use them in their lives

and its special in that way. They were locked in a special display

case made it unbreakable glass. But that did not stop the thieves. They

did manage to get the silver but it would not have been easy. There's a

large amount of damage to the Cabinet which must have taken some

time and would have made a lot of noise so somebody must have had

something. In the morning, the parishioners could not believe what

had happened. I was horrified. I was in the supermarket and somebody

told me and they came running along here to find out what had happened.

The community was blocked because it was so sad to see it happening

like that. It seems to me that these days a lot of people don't

respect the Church or any other important place. What would-be

thieves have done with this valuable historic silver? I spoke

to people in antiques, who believe that those items are actually quite

popular at the moment so they may have been stolen with a view to

selling them as they are, as opposed to melting them down.

People ask me about what I've been about the people who did this. They

seem to think they are above community and that is really quite

dreadful. I wouldn't want to live like that. Now that theft has

obviously had a big impact on that community. DC Gemma Holley is

running this investigation. Those thieves would have made quite a

noise getting in to that case, wouldn't they? Absolutely. It was

museum quality standard. They would have spent a long time hitting it

and made a large amount of noise. You want someone to come forward.

Yes, we appeal to anyone who has information and if they saw

anything to come forward. There was building work going on at the time

and they may have associated it with that when in fact it was a

burglary. Remind us about the stuff that was stolen. There is items of

silverware. All of a religious nature. Anything else which could

trigger people's memories? It was on St George's Day is the people

may have been going to and from celebrations. Hopefully that will

remind them of the day it happened. They used a crowbar and they would

have made quite a racket. Thank you ever so much for joining us. If you

had any information get in touch with us. The number is on screen

now. Thanks, Colin. They did not get away with all the silver

because we have some of it here. Let's talk to Alice from the Art

loss Register. Explain to us what it is. We maintain the world's

largest database of lost, stolen and missing at the facts of art and

things like this. The art market can check with us before they buy

or sell items to make sure they're not stolen. Really, they should not

be an excuse for somebody doing it by accident. Let's look at these

two pieces. These were left behind by the robbers thankfully. They are

now securely locked away and have been allowed out for today. What

would you be looking for on a piece like this? There are hallmarks to

look out for and the unique design on both of these. The pieces are

also church silverware. If you're offered them, you should ask

questions, shouldn't you? Absolutely. It's not often churches

give up something is valuable as this. Is it the fact going to be

that they have got to face up to this will be having been melted

down? Not necessarily. The value of medleys increasing but these pieces

have additional value because of historical significance. People

could take them for valuation. They could be consigned for a specialist

or silver dealer. You told me that one piece turned up six years after

it disappeared? Yes, we have identified piece is working with

the police were to have stolen six years before. In 2000 made, we

discovered an item stolen in 1961 for the -- 2008. If people are

offered this, what they do? Contact the church, the appropriate police

force, or bass, use our website to check. And we will work to return

to the rightful owner. The message is, by the -- buyer beware. If you

have any information, contact crime stoppers anonymously. Or you can

contact us direct on this number. 08000 468999. Or text us on 63399.

Now, let's get back to the theft of 18 grand's worth of state-of-the-

art equipment from a charity in Rye just before Christmas last year. On

the Friday before Christmas last year, young people at this workshop

charity in Rye were getting into the festive spirit. They had a lot

to celebrate. There charity helps young people who are struggling at

school and as a great results also they were just getting back on

track after a burglary the previous month. And the children were

looking forward to the new year. Since I came here, I have started

doing GCSEs. I have also joined police cadets and I had been

promoted twice to second in command. They help you out with a lot of

But then, on this Silent Night, a burglar breaks into the building by

forcing the bars on the window. But once inside, he seems surprised to

be caught on CCTV again. It is the sheer audacity of the man! He seems

to be doing his Christmas shopping. You can see him browsing the items,

lifting things up to see what they are made of. But without reindeers

and a sleigh, how will he carry everything? Problem solved! He then

collects all of the stuff and put it in the wheelbarrow, which he

uses to take it out of the building. Here's one Santa Clause who does

not need any little help us. He is quite happy to help himself. Next

on his list, some electric guitars. There will be no presents under

this Christmas tree tonight. All in all, he has got away with �30,000

worth of stuff. Merry Christmas! You couldn't imagine the effect

that had on them. On all of us. I just felt physically and utterly

sick! That somebody has come into this promises again and stolen if

the equipment, but more importantly, stolen the young people's work, and

it was sickening. It was not just the theft of the items that upset

the students. Coursework they had spent months working on also

disappeared. I have this stop frame animation, 30 pictures per second,

and I had nearly finished it. It was nearly three minutes and then

it had all gone. The hard drives were gone, once again. Computers we

had just got back. Everything. After that, I just felt as though I

could not carry on. It was too much doing it all over again. But the

guys here helped us to regain confidence and do it all over again,

and we have pretty much soldiered on. It is work they designed

themselves and somebody can come along and steel that and Take That,

and don't have any regard whatsoever of the time and effort

those young people have put in. -- and take it. It is absolutely

disgraceful. It disgusts me. joined now by Sergeant Paul Graham.

You have got a feel for these guys, haven't you? Go through the list of

what was missing. In total, six Apple computers, two expensive

cameras, a number of laptops, three guitars, but, more importantly,

three hard drives and the work that children have put on there. If were

there any distinguishing marks on the computers? We have serial

numbers but otherwise nothing. the total was �30,000? No charity

can afford to lose that? No. the computers contain bits and

pieces of the children's work? They were doing their course work

and the evening before, they had filmed a local show at a local

school. And photos were still in the cameras that were stolen.

is the sort of thing they cannot replace and it is beyond value for

them. Is there a chance they can get any of this back? There is if

people come forward. If they buy a camera with such a card in it,

there is a realistic opportunity. However, it is slim at the moment.

If somebody has bought a camera in good faith and finds one of these

cards in it, there is no a comeback on them at all? No. We would not be

looking at them like that. Let's just look at the still of the guy

go -- guy on the CCTV. He has a very distinguished receding auburn

hair line. So I think if you know him, you would recognise him from

that image? Yes. So, you have seen the image and heard the story. If

you know who he is, you know what to do. The numbers are on the

screen. Or you can call Crimestoppers.

Time now for an update on how your phone calls, text! -- texts and

emails are helping. This is a man who police think is responsible for

a number of Ford activities. Detectives say that they are

working on some strongThe inquiry thanks to your calls. Some -- some

strong, new inquiries. And we featured CCTV footage which

appeared to show a woman sneaking into the backroom of a shop in

Leicester, trying to open the safe, but leaving when confronted by the

shopkeeper. We now have possible names for her after two calls. We

will keep you updated. Let's get back to that drink-drive

campaign. As night falls, officers said up a roadblock to conduct

random breath tests or dash random breath tests.

-- random breath tests. Can I ask if you have had any

alcohol? Que je pull up next to my colleague just there? -- could you?

It is now time to set up a road safety check and the police had

these sorts of operations will deter people from having a drink

and getting behind the wheel. breath and stop when I tell you.

That has come up as the road. There is nothing in your system. Keep

going. It has come up as a pass. You had a drink earlier but it is

OK. Blowhard until I tell you to stop. An hour into the Czechs, and

how will the officer steering? -- an hour into checking and how are

the officers doing? Mostly, people have been OK to drive. For many,

this might seem extreme, but for those affected by drink-driving,

these tests are far better than the consequences many have gone through.

Katie was killed five years ago and she left behind her husband and

children. She had a five-year-old son. How do you tell a five-year-

old? You don't get to say goodbye and her body is in such a bad way

that we could not Egypt -- could even see her afterwards. The whole

family... Well, yeah, it has affected everybody. Nobody is the

same any more. On 29th June 2010, Katie was riding on the back of a

friend's motorbike. The driver had been drinking and taking drugs. On

the way home, the bike plunged into a traffic island at 100 miles an

hour. Katie died instantly. Her body went around a lamp-post. If

people realise the actual consequences of just having one too

many drinks, on a bike, in a car, if that person realised, took a

second and thought, get a taxi, walk where you are going to, it is

for the sake of putting all of your friends and family through that. It

is unnecessary. Back at the roadside check, police have

discovered drugs and it is no surprise to the officers, as this

is becoming all the more prevalent. What is in your bag? A little bit

of cannabis. Where is it? Basically, we have a strong smell of cannabis

in the vehicle. It is now easier to get hold of drugs now. People are

driving under the influence. It is very difficult. Police have putted

This car over because there was the smell of cannabis when they put

their heads through the window. -- the police have pulled. Drug-

driving as a poster drink-driving is a fairly common and important

factor. -- as opposed to. We deal with with cannabis warnings and we

have actually given 20 or so a breath test, so we see a lot of

people drinking alcohol out there, and these people need to be aware

that if they have a bit too much, at some point they will be over the

limit and losing their licences. We have had 20 tonight. Tonight has

been very successful. We had tourists. Although they were not on

our particular operation, they were in Sussex. We have also raised the

awareness of those who were not only stopped but with their

families. As they are driving past the roadside checks, they are

thinking, where is the next one? Will I be caught?

I am now joined by Kevin Clinton, who is head off road safety for

ROSPA. That is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Around 400 people are killed every year from drink-driving, so that is

about five every week. Five lives to money being lost. If and

Scotland are currently looking at changing the laws. Scotland now has

the power to set its own drink- drive limit and they are proposing

to know it. It will go down from 80 to 50 milligrammes in 100

millilitres of blood. We have one of the highest drink-drive limits

in Europe. Almost all of Europe has a limit of 50, which is where

Scotland is proposing to go. would it be possible to have Sera?

Literally it would not have -- not be possible to have zero because

your blood it naturally has a bit of alcohol in it. After those road

checks, people are still drinking and driving. Are you ever going to

get the message across? Well, if the message is getting through.

Many years ago, it was over 1,500 being killed each year. Now it is

down to under 400. If you find drivers of all ages doing it. The

highest risk is younger drivers because the alcohol affect them

much more and they are experienced. Younger drivers have grown up

always knowing that you should not drink and drive and may be older

drivers back in the days said, you can have a few pints and it does

not matter? Yes. But we have had the drink-drive campaign for 40

years, so people driving before those campaigns started will be

quite old. So it is simple that we need to continue the campaign. You

can never stop. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Back to you, Rav.

Thank you. Just time to give you a quick update. A possible name has

come in for that theft from the charity in Rye. Police are looking

into that as we speak. And some good information coming end on a

face from yesterday. There he is. Sentenced to two years for robbery

but did not turn up. Thank you to everybody who has got in touch.

That is all we have time for. Dave, you are moving on tomorrow? Yes. We

are saying goodbye to Sussex, Brighton and Surrey. I have had a

very enjoyable time. I think the best day was throwing those weapons

into the water and waiting for the police to find them. We have

another day of water tomorrow with the Metropolitan Police out on the

River Thames, seeing what they do. We will also be looking at how

destruction burglars are targeting vulnerable and elderly people in

the capital. That is tomorrow. sounds great! Thank you for your

help in Sussex. That is it for today. Fall of the details about