Episode 19 Crimewatch Roadshow

shocking rise in attacks on guide Hello and welcome to Crimewatch

Roadshow, we are live once again and nearing the end of our month of

programmes but we still have time to get more criminals off the streets

and we need your help to do it. Here is what is coming up on the

programme. Hundreds of guide dogs are coming

under attack. From other out of control dogs.

A night on the town that ended in tragedy. Help us trace the thugs

that left a DJ with hearing problems.

And the charity bus theft that left disabled users stranded.

Our Roadshow team are in the final stages of their road trip round the

country and today they are in we ares Mercia. Good morning Sian,

where are you today? ? Morning, eam checking intoes can diat Malinsgate

Police Station in Telford. This is the revamped custody suite and as

well as having a good look round I will will find out how they deal

with violent prisoners using one of these. Sounds intrigue ing, first we

have heard the phrase a dog is a man's best friend, if you are blind

or partially sighted your guide dog is more nan a friend. It is a

lifeline. Police and campaigners are calling for a change in the law to

stop the growing number of vicious attacks on guide dogs, by other

canines. Over the last couple of years there

has been 240 attacks on guide dogs. Ten every month.

It was terrifying. It really was, I couldn't see what was going on round

Gemma has been registered blind for most of her life. When she was 23,

she was paired with her first guide dog, a labrador retriever called

Echo. As soon as she came through the door we clicked. There was just

an instantness where we become one, almost. She touched everyone that

het met her, she was a loving dog, everyone couldn't help but love her.

There was no stopping me once I got her, I was everywhere. She gave

Gemma, love, support and independence and was centre stage at

her wedding. She ended up having a bow to match

my bridesmaid's dress, she was in all the photos with us, it made it

complete. I don't think our wedding would have been right if she hadn't

been there, because it had been part of our family missing.

But Gemma's happy family was torn apart after just ten months. In

March 2004, she was walking home from work, when Oak co-was savaged

by another -- Echo was savaged by another dog. It was terrifying, I

couldn't see what was going on round me. I started screamling "Help, my

dog is being attacked, help, help, help." When I tried to pull her to

one side so I could kick it, because I knew it was going for her, she

wouldn't allow it, she didn't want me to be bitten. She was putting me

in the way -- she was putting herself in the way. The shock of the

attack caused Gemma to have an epileptic fit. She was rushed to

hospital. Echo was treated for bite wounds. She was bitten below the

eye. After the attack she was never quite if same.

She was just sort of withdrew into herself, she was scared, very timid.

And Echo never regained her confidence. She was retired from

service at six-year-old. It wasn't practical for Gemma to keep her as a

pet. It was emotional to let her go. My mum said it was like losing a

grandchild. The nature of a guide dog is gentleness. The passive

nature is what makes them vulnerable. In the past two years,

hundreds of guide dogs have been attacked, by other dogs. This is

despicable, because all of these attacks would be avoidable. All

people need to do is to actually control their dogs. That may well

just be keeping their dog on the lead. When an attack occurs we have

to look at the impact. In certain situations it leads to the

withdrawal of a guide dog. That leads to the withdrawal of a

person's, their mobility aid and they can be stranded in their own

home. And there is a financial price to

pay too. Each dog costs round �50,000 to breed, train and support

through its eight year working life. This little bundle of joy, it is

only six weeks old at the moment, in 18 months' time it could be guiding

a blind or partially sighted person, and really, you know, have a very

responsible role in that respect, so it is amazing the amount of training

and work that will go into this little pup over the next 18 months,

for her to be able to perform that role.

Now campaigners and the police want a change in the law, to make an

attack on a guide dog by another animal a criminal offence.

It is not a criminal offence for a dog to attack a guide dog. That

would be treated as a civil matter probably. The police would be

involved. Perhaps there would be a community resolution, involved with

that, but at the end of the day it is not a criminal offence at the

moment, so that is the issue and the problem we have. After losing her

beloved Echo Gemma was matched with Lister but he had to be retired too,

after falling foul to another out of control dog.

And Glade, who she has had for under a year has also been attacked in the

street. I feel jinxed. I felt as if "Why me? Why me? There is so many

dogs, why does it have to be my dogs? " We are getting ten a month

attacked. That is a huge impact on the blind person, it has an impact

on the organisation, because these dogs are expensive -- expensive to

train. It must be very stressful for the blind person on the end of that

lead. I can't imagine what that is like. For Gemma a change in the law

can't come fast enough. It makes he feel sick, to the fact

that all that money and time has gone into providing a dog, to help

someone like myself, and because someone can't look after their dog

properly, and control their dog, it ruins the life of so many people.

I am joined by Colin Elliott. When did your campaign to change the law

begin? We start round 2010, really because we were seeing a number of

attacks, dog attack on guide dog increase, we really just want to try

and address that and do something about it. Very concerning, the

number of guide dogs getting attacked, what is happening on that

front? Between 2010 and 2012, it was averaging about eight guide dog

attacks a month, but since then we have looked at it again and between

2011, and 2013, it has increased to about ten attacks a month, so it is

getting worse. So very concerning, so, tell us about the change in the

law, what will that involve? Well, we have been campaigning hard to

change the law, so that a dog attack on a guide dog will be considered an

attack on the owner, so we are campaigning hard to change that, in

terms of legislation. We were delighted in May this year in the

Queen's Speech, there is provision in the crime Crime and Disorder Bill

to make that an offence. At the moment the police can't do anything,

because it is a, classed as a civil matter. Because it is a dog on dog

attack. So that could be about to change. We have some adorable guide

dogs who have come in this morning, not the usual place you would see

them. Thank you puppy walkers for bringing them in. A bundle of joy,

one of them fast asleep, she is chilled out there. Tell us, Colin,

about these dogs, who are they? is Inle. That is a knew addition to

the team -- new. She is a lab retriever cost. This is a German

shepherd cross. She is about eight months old: Then we have Gracey, a

black labrador and who is very chilled at the end is Milo. They are

being very well behaved. Fantastic. What would be the cost of looking

after a guide dog from birth to throughout working life? It costs

about 50,000 to support a guide dog through from breeding to training,

to retirement. So a lot of money.We don't get any Government funding for

that. Thank you very much. They are lovely! Now, this lot certainly

aren't camera-shy. It is time for our first batch of particularly

nasty and violent criminal, caught on CCTV.

-- criminals. Leicester, earlier this year.

These three are waiting for a taxi. A stranger comes in. But the

friendly chat continues and they seem to be getting on.

Then, the atmosphere changes. Watch the one in the striped hat. He

punches the man in the face, completely out of the blue, breaking

his nose. As he is leaving, he threatens hiss victim again. Do you

know this aggressive man? Pick up the phone if you do.

-- hiss. A corner shop in Salford, April this

year. Three men have stormed inside and

are ransacking it. They start by smashing the till,

then they get behind the counter, and start throwing packets of

cigarettes into a box. The shopkeeper pleads with them to

stop, instead these heartless thugs shove her to the far end of the

counter. In the panic to get away, they knock

the box full of cigarettes on to the floor, but that doesn't stop them

and they start picking them up. In the meantime, one of the men

roughly grabs the shopkeeper by the throat. They steal �3,000 worth of

cigarettes and over �100 in cash, as well as other goods.

Police need to identify these yobs, they may have their faces covered

but someone will know who they are. It is the Friday night before

Christmas. As late-night levers make their way

home things turn nasty. A man is attacked by a group. The fight

continues further up the street. With two men attacking their victim.

They punch him in the face and he falls to the floor.

Watch again. It is a sickening blow. As he lies injured on the floor, his

friends try and help. The victim has been permanently

affected. He still hasn't got his sense of taste or smell back.

Police believe these are the men who are involved. Do you know them? Can

you help us find those thugs? Call or text us.

The space is important, if you don't put it in your message won't get

through. Or send us an email.

Sian. Now another night out that turned nasty. Can you help us trace

the man who left a DJ with hearing problems?

This is Sam. He is a music festival promoter and a DJ with an ear for a

good tune. But sadly, Sam's career ambitions are on hold, after an

assault which left him partially deaf, and nearly killed him.

Just last month, on Saturday June 1st, Sam and his friend Scott were

out celebrating a birthday in Worcester town centre.

We were having a nice night, we weren't planning on getting

hammered, it was just a few drinks. It was a good night. Nobody was

giving us any trouble through the night. Everything was fine, we

decided to leave. We decided we might go to another club. We

couldn't get into the club because it was too late, so then we decided

we wanted to get some food, so we walked to the local can backbench

house, grabbed some food and started to walk home. At round the same time

these two men were in the area. Sam and Scott didn't realise their paths

were about to cross with the pair. One of whom seemed to be agitated.

This was the early hours of Sunday morning. As we came down the side of

the bridge, we crossed the road, I heard some shouting, what is your

problem? As I turned round, Sam was being confronted by this person, and

before I knew it, he was on the floor. It was quite a nasty punch, I

heard his head hit the floor. I was worried about him, and the kid came

at me, he said, do you want some of this to? I said, I need to see my

friend. I pretended to him, he was on the floor, not responding,

bleeding from his right ear. Sam was in need of urgent medical

attention. Desperate to help his friend, Scott flagged down a taxi,

but as it approached, the thug who attacked him and the man he was with

run-off. The next thing I remember, waking up in Birmingham Queen

Elizabeth Hospital. He was lucky to be alive. Doctors had induced him

into a coma, as he had suffered a fractured skull and a brain

haemorrhage. This is the sort of assault that can quite often result

in a manslaughter, people get hit, they go down, the brain is a

sensitive organ, and I have dealt with cases like this where sadly

they have ended tragically, people have died as a result. The attack

has left some partially deaf in one ear. He has not returned to work.

The assault may have just lasted seconds, but it has changed his

life. If I see two people together, normally I would be fine, it would

not bother me, but I keep my eyes out now, I am a bit wary now and

again. He is not the person that he used to be. He has changed a bit, he

is more wary about his surroundings. Police would like to speak to this

man in connection with the attack on Sam. I want anyone who knows who

these lads are, any information about what has happened, to come

forward. As soon as I ran to his needs, he legged it, he was not

forced. He was not bothered whether or not he has hurt or killed

someone. He was worried about running off. That is a coward,

really. Just come forward. Just come forward. He may have ruined

someone's life. I am joined now by Billy Scott. What

do you know about the attacker? was a black male in his early 20s,

of muscular build, we did not get any description of the clothing.

was with another man, who was not involved. What do you know about

him? He could be a vital witness? They were out in the town together,

they walked home towards the bridge, where the attack took place. They

have had a disagreement with the taxi driver on the pedestrian

crossing, they went on to the bridge, and after the attack, they

run off together, a white male with dark hair. They ran off towards the

university. This happened at 3:17am on Sunday the 2nd of June, so not

that long ago. Just four weeks ago. Thank you. If you have got any

information, get in touch. It is time to have a look at

today's wanted faces. First, Luke Satterthwaite is wanted by officers

in Surrey in connection with possession with intent to supply

after bags of cannabis were taken into a theme park. He has

connections to Worcestershire and speaks with a Birmingham accent. He

is heavily tattooed with facial scars. Next, Saeed Khan Ahmadi. The

police want to speak to him on connection with an attack in which

the victim was tied up and burgled in her home by men posing as British

Gas workers. He has parties of letters on his arms, he is

originally from Iran but has links with London. Daniel Thomas Barber

has been wanted since 2007, he was released early for GBH but has

failed to stick to his conditions. He is wanted back in prison to serve

his remaining two years. He has connections with London and the

South Coast. Officers have been looking for Lubomir Oracko since

2010. They want to question him in connection with burglaries in West

London. He speaks with a Polish accent and could be anywhere in the

country. You can call us, text or Every prisoner who is called into

the custody suite goes through the same procedures, but before they are

even fingerprinted, they are brought into this room, which has a special

UV light. That and asked the officers to see if they have been up

to no good. Tell us about this room. There does not seem to be much in

it, what happens? When somebody is brought in, they come into this

room, and there are UV light. If anybody has entered a property which

has a DNA liquid in it, and they are sprayed with it, they come in here,

the UV lights are put on, and if it glows yellow or green, they have

entered the property illegally, and reprocessed them through custody.

are talking about forensic tagging that some businesses and people will

use. It is a liquid a bit like this, which can be put onto people's

clothes. We want to show you what it looks like. We have put some on my

top. If we make sure that the UV light comes on now, hopefully you

can see what it looks like. There are the words, very clever. It is a

put on. In terms of policing, you can link the person who is packed

clothes? They would be sprayed with liquid, which is DNA particular to

that property. It would show up like that. They would be liable to be

arrested. It has been a fascinating experiment, back to you.

We need your help to solve a very recent crime. This happened on

Sunday night in a pizza takeaway in Cardiff.

We are at a branch of Domino's Pizza in Cardiff, these hooded men seem to

be in a hurry for a pizza. They enter, and one man leaps over the

counter, brandishing a knife and demanding to be taken to the office.

The terrified employee is forced to comply whilst the man keeps watch.

In the office, the hooded robbers shouts for money. The police tell

him the money is in a safe, and he has a seven minute time delay, so

they cannot open it. The intruder does not want to wait, so he turned

his attention to detail. He is aggressive and waves a blade goes to

the male worker's neck. He gives the employee five seconds to open the

till. The member of staff has no choice but to obey. The thief grabs

around �200 in cash and makes his getaway across the car park.

Stuck out in the sticks, the theft of a charity bus that has left its

users isolated. Time is money for many of us, which

is why many more households now relying on the convenience of having

their groceries delivered. But one supermarket van driver in Shropshire

got more than she bargained for. There were a lot of things shooting

through my mind, has he got a nice? Will he hurt me further? Will he do

anything else to me? You start thinking, how am I going to get out

of this? In May of this year, Cheryl Davis was out doing her job

delivering groceries for Asda. enjoy my job, knowing that I was on

my own, I like the freedom it gives you, I like meeting people, being on

the road, having music on, nice weather, it was really good. I never

felt unsafe or that something was going to happen or anything, I just

got on with it. She was getting towards the end of her shift.

late afternoon. I started doing the delivery as normal, every thing was

fine, I pulled up to the road, and I delivered the shopping. She was

about to encounter a very unwelcome customer. I went back to the van, I

double checked that everything was correct and secure, and that is when

he approached me. He asked me what was free. Me being me, I turned

around, laughed, and I said, nothing is free, go away. He grabbed hold of

my arm and said, no, I am asking you, what is free? My reaction was

to push him away, because I felt isolated and scared, and I did not

know what else to do. I know it was a bit more serious, and when he dug

his fingernails into my arm, I knew he was trouble. She fought back, but

he pushed her violently to the floor. As I felt, I heard my face,

because I had scratches down my face, I caught them on my baskets. I

have got bruises on my legs and back. Obviously, I properly had my

head, it took the wind out of me. Then, I screamed and shouted, and he

ran off. It is a callous, nasty attack, we are keen to catch this

individual. If he is happy to attack a lone female worker, going about

her job, it causes concern. attack has had a long-lasting

effect. Cheryl is still not able to do the job she once loved. People

that come close to me, it was making me jumpy. I was always looking

around, waiting for something to happen. The anxiety kicked in. I was

having vivid nightmares about it, I could not sleep, I lost a stone in

weight, it has had a big effect on my family, me and my son, and my

home life. She was able to give the police a good description and they

have released this image of her attacker. He was described as having

a Telford accent and quite a distinctive Babyface. I remember his

hat, a New York Yankees baseball cap. Usually, they have the peak

folded over, but he had made his straight for some reason. If she had

not shouted at hand screamed, he would undoubtedly have taken

possession from the vehicle, so it is an attempted robbery offence.

feel angry, I still feel a bit scared, most of all, I feel

deflated. It is like they have violated your life, that is how they

make you feel, they have taken over your life, and it will play a big

part forever for me. It will always be in my head, I will always think

An unusual attack, why somebody would want to steal shopping.

it is only one of a kind in the policing area, and only one of its

kind in the force area. The lorries do not carry any cash of any sort,

so it was just for the shopping, it would appear. You have got a good

description of the attacker. Yes, a white male in his late teens, having

a Babyface, with a local Telford accent. He was wearing a red body

with drawstrings and the cap that we have talked about, the flat peaked

baseball cap. A similar cap to this one. You want people to take a look

at that. Yes, you can see the letters and white on the front, it

is distinctive, a flat peaked cap, so anybody wearing one of those

around the beginning of May. Distraction burglary is a term we

are all too familiar with. A national task force has been set up

to tackle the problem. Tell us about your task force. I am from Operation

Liberal. The nature of this demands a collaborative approach. Due to the

fact that these type of offenders travelled the length and breadth of

the country to carry out their crimes. By adopting a national

intelligence unit, we can collect the information, identify crime

patterns are profile the offenders and assist the forces. We have been

able to increase the detection rate by 8%. That is good, it is a

sickening crime. They are always picking on the vulnerable or

elderly, it is horrible. Yes, these offenders target the most full noble

in our society, and the elderly. Typically, a victim is a female

living alone in her 80s. ?We have Thomas Francis Hallisey. He has a

history of committing distraction burglaries and is wanted for robbery

in Staffordshire and burglary in Leicestershire. We have another one,

James Hanrahan. He is wanted on a recall to prison, having been

convicted of distraction burglaries. OK, and the next one. This is Robert

Kerr, again he has a history of committing distraction burglary,

currently wanted for fraud in Suffolk and the West Midlands.

have one more that police are keen to identify. Tell us about this guy.

Peter 'Eli' Connor. He has on seconded from prison so we are

interested in putting him back. you found with distraction

burglaries they are not like a lot of criminals which are opportunist,

they are almost professional. They go out to target those vulnerable

people. Yes, they are determined professionals, and they will go out,

and they will travel the length and breadth of the country. They will

purport to be from the electricity board, waterboard, they will do

anything they can to contheir way into the house. They will ruin

someone's life, what can people do to keep themselves safe? Make sure

you identify who the caller is. If you need to call the company from

where they say they are from, do that, get the number from a

telephone directory or a utility bill. Don't use a number given to

you by them. If they claim to be from the waterboard? If they claim

to be from the waterboard, the waterboard ceased to exist in 1989.

If they say that they are false. Good advice, let us go back to Sian

and see what she is up to. It is the theft of a charity bus that has left

hundreds of elderly and disabled people in Herefordshire struggling

I was mortified really, to think how could somebody do that, you know.

Long-term it is a disaster. Ben Francis has cerebral palsy. For

the past five year, he has relied heavily on a bus service provided by

the Dore Community Transport charity. To get him out and about.

It gives me freedom and it makes me, it makes me happy. I like go going

to a music club. Ben normally uses it for a social

time. Because, like if he didn't have the bus, he would be sort of

stuck and he wouldn't really have a life without the bus. And Ben is not

alone. Round 700 people in Herefordshire, many of whom are

disabled and elderly completely defend -- depend on this community

bus service. We started in 2000, so 12 years ago, with one van and about

12 passenger, and we have an ageing population that can't drive any

more, so without a service such as us, which provides a for to door

service for them, they would be isolated.

With more and more customers wanting to jump onboard, last year the

volunteers decided they desperately needed another vehicle. With some

hefty donations from locals they raised �35,000, and increased their

fleet from two to three. It was a big day when it came. We

were very proud of it. It was well received by the clientele as well.

But their excitement was shortlived. In May this year, the lock up garage

used by the charity was broken into. Expensive tools, and an envelope

stuffed with donations were taken. Worst of all, the new bus was

stolen. Just six months after the charity had bought it.

Approximately �3,000 worth of car repair equipment, was taken. Loaded

on to this charity minibus and taken away.

It was a very secure venue, it was in a locked come Puned, in a locked

garage, it wasn't easy to pinch. theft has cost the charity dearly.

The 30 volunteers that run it are devastated, and it has put a huge

strain on the whole service. It is very sad, because we had just got to

a point where, you know, we really could start to expand and offer more

people our service, you know, you hope you don't have to turn people

away because of being one vehicle down. Long-term, it is, it is a

disaster. Its users like Ben that are feeling the loss. I was

mortified, really, to think how could somebody do that, you know? I

just hope that somebody comes forward to return the bus. And this

bus is identical to the one that was stolen, it is a Volkswagon

Transporter, in a distinctive dark red colour, so if you saw a bus like

this one with a registration plate VK62 ELV, then we want to hear from

you. And, like this one, the one that was stolen had the words Dore

Community Transport printed down the side of it, so take a good look and

get in touch if you can help. Now, it is time for a quick appeal.

Avon & Somerset Police have asked us here add Crimewatch Roadshow to help

with an incident of voyeurism. On the 18th October last year, a very

cheeky guy loitered round the changing room of Store 21 in Bath

until an unsuspected female went in to try clothes on. He placed what is

described as a small camera device through the gap in the door while

she was changing. He ran out when the victim confronted him. But this

peeping tom needs tracking down, so do you know who he is? If you can

put a name to the face, please give us a call.

Now, this light fingered lot have been rumbled. It is our next round

of criminals caught on CCTV. East London, a pub after hours. The

man in the hat is hanging round outside. He takes the hat off and

replaces it with a balaclava. It must be chilly with that bald

#4ed, but he is not worried about the cold weather, he doesn't want us

to see his face as he breaks into the pub, he knows there is an alarm

inside. So after forcing open a window he makes an agile entrance,

squirming through the window and on to the floor.

But despite all his efforts, the alarm goes off any way.

Before the owner can get downstairs, the creepy crook runs to the till

and grabs �150 in cash, and makes his escape. Do you know him?

Get in touch if you do. We are at Mersey way shopping centre

and the shops are beginning to close, nens have only just started

work. They charge into this jewellers and start threatening the

staff. They demand to be let into the safe

area, while the third robber keeps watch at the door.

One of them opens a cabinet, and starts grabbing goods from the

display. They bag nearly �400,000 worth of expensive watches. All

three make their escape. They run across the street, still brandishing

machetes before heading for the get away car. Do you know anything about

this incident? Please, call us. February this year. It is 4.30 in

the morn morning at this empty house in London. It's a perfect target for

a sneaky burglar on the prowl. You can see him searching the house with

a torch. He is peering into every corner, and having a good look

round. He must have found something he

likes, because he leaves with a large bag.

Do you know this man? You know what to do.

Call our text us on the usual numbers or email us at the address

on screen. There is also Crimestoppers.

I am in the cells now, and since this revamped custody suite opened a

year ago, 3616 prisoners have come through the door, usually they are

handcuffed and that is enough. But what do they do if there is a

violent prisoner? Well, they can restrain them with one of these, an

emergency response belt. And Jack is going to show us how it works and go

through the procedure. If I can ask for your help. Take hold of that

belt and pull. Pull that out.Place it under his chest. Just above the

elbow. Yes. . It is light this material. It is. It is very strong.

Take hold of that part and on three, a good pull. One, two, three, that

is a really physical pull. Great. This is Rich. He is a willing

volunteer, a PC here from the West Mercia force. I will be be asking

him how it is feeling as we go along, the next one goes lower down?

Yes, across the knees so we have the legs restrained. Right.Also, for

later, they come with handles so we are able to move the prisoner about.

So we will see that, we will see the use of the handles later. Where did

this originate from the idea of the belt? The idea is American. One,

two, three. OK. So it came from America. And then introduced over

here, about 2000 I think. Right. So this is the last one. Where does

this go? Across here, purely for carrying, this isn't tightened up

because it places pressure on the abdomen. How are you feeling?

restricted but I can breathe OK. Good. Right. Pull that. Obviously

you have to protect the head, because Rich is not thrashing round,

but when would you use this? People who are thrashing round, being

violent? We get people who are drunk, drugged, they pose a

significant risk to themselves, that is what it is for. We have a duty of

care to people, we need to look after them. Exactly. Pull that.Not

too tight. He can move the fingers so the blood is flowing, we are in a

position the lift him. I am going to move back so you guys can lift Rich.

This is how it would happen. three. One, two, three lift.And up.

It is dramatic to see that in process, that is how it happens.

Rather him than me! A quick update. We have had what police are calling

a great new lead on one of the wanted face faces we saw yesterday.

Police are following up the lead right now. Plus, some good

information through on one of yet's CCTV items where a woman appears to

skim money from a shop Norfolk. Lots of you comments on the shocking

report on guide dogs. Thank you to everyone who got in touch. Where

will you be tomorrow for our last day Sian? It is the end of our grand

tour, and we are going to be finishing in the headquarters of

West Mercia Police, we will be investigating online romance scams,

because it is estimated 200,000 people have been conned while they

are looking for love. Thank you. That is about it for today, but you

can have another look at the CCTV and the wanted faces on the website.