0:00:02 > 0:00:03Bag snatchers, robberies and street crime.
0:00:03 > 0:00:07According to police figures, more than 3,500 theft incidents
0:00:07 > 0:00:09are reported every day in the UK.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13They stole part of my life.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16But have you ever wondered what happens to our belongings
0:00:16 > 0:00:17when they're stolen?
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Thief Trackers tells the story of where they go.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25We're hiding satellite tracking devices inside a range of
0:00:25 > 0:00:27desirable everyday items
0:00:27 > 0:00:30like cameras, Smartphones and bicycles
0:00:30 > 0:00:32to trace the looters' footsteps.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34The thieves think they've got away with it,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36but we're tracking their every move.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41With secret filming, CCTV and police raid footage...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Police officers with a search warrant. Open the door.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46..we'll get an insight into criminal mind-set
0:00:46 > 0:00:50and uncover the unseen journeys that our treasured possessions take
0:00:50 > 0:00:51when they're stolen.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Today, we're on the trail of a team of distraction thieves who swipe
0:01:01 > 0:01:06a handbag, unaware that its contents are fitted with a GPS tracker.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09These two are so audacious and matter of fact,
0:01:09 > 0:01:10they just walk along the street,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12like another day at the office and they're away.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Plus, a Christmas burglar is oblivious his every move
0:01:18 > 0:01:20is being monitored by the police.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24He didn't believe the system was as reliable as it was.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26I can only put this down to sheer stupidity.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And two amateur detectives use the latest technology
0:01:31 > 0:01:35to track down a building site bag snatcher.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38We were looking for someone who was close proximity to us
0:01:38 > 0:01:40cos that's what the phone was telling us,
0:01:40 > 0:01:41a matter of meters away,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44and then that's when the real nerves kicked in. Will he draw a knife on us?
0:01:44 > 0:01:47You just don't know what you're tackling at that point.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53The threat of personal theft is ever present.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57In the year to March 2015 there were almost 70,000
0:01:57 > 0:01:59recorded incidents of this kind across the UK.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Snatch thieves will target wallets, Smartphones and handbags.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07They usually operate in busy areas,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09making our cities most vulnerable.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15In fact, London accounts for almost half of the UK's personal robberies.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Former Metropolitan police inspector Keith Farquharson
0:02:19 > 0:02:21is helping us with our investigation.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Statistically, there's over 1,600 reported bag thefts
0:02:24 > 0:02:26each day in the UK.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28The bags may be taken to a different place
0:02:28 > 0:02:30where the thief would look through the bag
0:02:30 > 0:02:33and take items that are saleable and that they may be able to clone,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37so identity theft may well be on the cards if you leave
0:02:37 > 0:02:41credit cards, driving licences, passports, for example,
0:02:41 > 0:02:46within the bags, and not just mobile phones and other electrical devices.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49After a theft like this,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51what happens to the valuables inside?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Where do they go?
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's unlikely the victims will ever see their possessions again,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00unless they have fitted them with a GPS tracker like this.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04It uses a technology known as GPS,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06the Global Positioning System,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10and the core of that technology is the ability of this device
0:03:10 > 0:03:14to measure the range from here to orbiting satellites.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Those satellites will be about 20,000km away.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21We've chosen to fit a tracker into the display
0:03:21 > 0:03:23box of an exclusive designer watch
0:03:23 > 0:03:26because there is a large second-hand market
0:03:26 > 0:03:28for designer and luxury timepieces,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31ideal for thieves looking to make some quick cash.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35It may be that the thief will keep the watch for their own benefit,
0:03:35 > 0:03:36their own use,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39or try to sell it on depending on the value of it,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41the type of watch and the saleability of it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44They would generally go to a pawn shop to do that or perhaps
0:03:44 > 0:03:47even individually advertise it on the internet.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50We're off to the London Borough of Westminster.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55It's the number one spot for "theft from the person"-style robberies.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58As you can see, it's a busy part of London.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59Lots of pedestrian traffic,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03people drinking outside and lots of opportunities for the thieves.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07There are places like this in towns and cities across the country.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11We all know where the hot spots are where we live.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14In busy areas it pays to be extra vigilant,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17as thieves don't always work alone.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18When you see two thieves working together,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21it's usually for a distraction-type offence,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24whereby one would take, literally distract the victim's attention,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26the other one will move in for the property.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29And, of course, there's always somebody on hand
0:04:29 > 0:04:32to help them escape if they're challenged.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35We're sending a member of our team into the target area
0:04:35 > 0:04:38carrying an ordinary, unassuming bag.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Our designer watch is inside,
0:04:40 > 0:04:41along with a GPS tracker.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46She's made her way to a bar and stops outside to make a phone call
0:04:46 > 0:04:48with her bag right next
0:04:48 > 0:04:50to her on the pavement.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52From the data, we can see
0:04:52 > 0:04:54that the tracker is live.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57This kind of scenario could happen anywhere.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00She's doing what we all might do when we're out.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03We're not trying to confront thieves.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05We just want to find out where our stolen items go.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11We have two hidden cameras ready to catch the action.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Now it's just a case of waiting to see what happens.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21It isn't long before our bag attracts some attention.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22Watch this man, here.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25He's ambling past, taking a good look at the bag.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Shortly after, here he is again for a second look.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38But it seems he's not brazen enough to go for it.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Presently, there's more interest.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Keep your eye on this woman in the stripy top.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52She seems innocent enough,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54as though she's waiting for someone,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57but is she trying too hard to look inconspicuous?
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Or, is she sizing up our handbag?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Now another woman arrives.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08It looks like the pair have sussed that our producer is distracted
0:06:08 > 0:06:10by her phone call.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13They have a close eye on her handbag.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17The second woman leaves.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Shortly after, the woman in the stripy top sashays past.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It looks like she's with this guy,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30but actually she's just chatting to a random passer-by,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32in an attempt to blend in.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Moments later she returns.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38While our victim is distracted,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41the handbag is gone in a second.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Blink and you'd miss it.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47But our camera catches the moment of the theft,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50as she dips down and swipes the bag.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56This is a classic act of teamwork.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58The suspicious pair stroll by.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00One of them seems to hold up his jacket
0:07:00 > 0:07:02to mask her from passersby
0:07:02 > 0:07:03while she grabs the bag.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09The tracker now picks up the trail
0:07:09 > 0:07:12and we can see the thief heading off towards London's Chinatown.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18Later, we follow the stolen bag and the watch inside...
0:07:18 > 0:07:21We do find wallets up here.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Small handbags or purses down there.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26..as the thief makes her way through London's backstreets.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34All over the UK,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37law enforcers are using GPS tracking technology
0:07:37 > 0:07:39in the fight against crime.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43This technology has become to appear in court cases now.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46We call it forensic GPS and actually
0:07:46 > 0:07:49it's a way of putting criminals directly behind bars
0:07:49 > 0:07:52because we can prove that they were at a particular place
0:07:52 > 0:07:54at a particular time.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56In December 2013,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00West Midlands Police were surprised by the extent to which the technology
0:08:00 > 0:08:05would reveal one criminal's trail of heartless Christmas robberies.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09This had a profound impact on the victims of these crimes
0:08:09 > 0:08:11and it ruined their Christmases.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19This case took place in the outer suburbs of Birmingham.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24It's the patch patrolled by Sergeant Sharon Revitt
0:08:24 > 0:08:27of the South Yardley neighbourhood team.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30South Yardley and Small Heath is a very diverse area.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Lots of families living here.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33A lot of young people,
0:08:33 > 0:08:38but also we have the elderly as well, so it's a really good mix.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40A very friendly community.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41Friendly it may be,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44but, in common with many inner city areas,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46it still has an undesirable element,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49some of whom are intent on breaking and entering.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Burglary takes up about 5% of our overall crime in South Yardley.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57It's absolutely a force priority.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01The effect of a burglary on a victim can be life-changing.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04It's not just about the monetary value of what you lose.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Often sentimental items are stolen
0:09:06 > 0:09:09and often people feel traumatised
0:09:09 > 0:09:13at the fact that someone's come into their home uninvited.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17It was in November 2013 that one particular thief
0:09:17 > 0:09:19embarked on a series of break-ins.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Sergeant Ian Comfort of West Midland Police followed the case.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Seven burglaries were committed during the space of just over a week
0:09:30 > 0:09:35on the run up to Christmas, right in the middle of the festive period.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Various items were stolen that were easily portable.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44Handbags, jewellery, Nintendo Wii computer games system, televisions,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46all items that were then fairly easy for the suspect
0:09:46 > 0:09:48to sell on afterwards.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53For one victim, it was especially heartbreaking.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56During the second of the seven offences,
0:09:56 > 0:10:01the suspect broke into the home address of an elderly lady
0:10:01 > 0:10:05who tragically had recently lost her husband.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Amongst the items that were stolen from her were his wedding ring.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Obviously, this particular item of jewellery had a great
0:10:12 > 0:10:16amount of sentimental value and it was very precious to her.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21We see more calls about burglary come through to us
0:10:21 > 0:10:22around the Christmas time
0:10:22 > 0:10:25probably than any other time of the year.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27We're talking about Christmas presents being stolen,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31their home has been violated just coming up to Christmas,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33children being upset,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36so in terms of the financial suffering
0:10:36 > 0:10:38but also the emotional impact as well.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40It does have a huge effect on people's lives.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45So, seven robberies taking place in 14 days,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47in such a small target area?
0:10:49 > 0:10:53The police rapidly spotted several similar methods of break-in,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55which suggested the same culprit.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57We were able to see that the offences had all been
0:10:57 > 0:11:02committed in roughly the same manner and using the same MO.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Approaching the house from the back and forcing entry during the day
0:11:05 > 0:11:07while the occupants were out.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Officers quickly identified their chief suspect
0:11:10 > 0:11:15and GPS technology played a crucial part in the operation to catch him.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18West Midlands Police had been piloting a new ankle-tagging
0:11:18 > 0:11:22system to monitor persistent criminals released on licence.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27The purpose of the trial was to experiment with the use of
0:11:27 > 0:11:32GPS technology and the tracking of prolific offenders,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35reducing their reoffending and rehabilitating.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38For the wearer, they benefit from reduced attention from the police
0:11:38 > 0:11:40in terms of overnight curfew checks.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44They benefit from being eliminated early
0:11:44 > 0:11:48earlier than they would have been otherwise from the investigations.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52This GPS tracking system pinpoints the whereabouts
0:11:52 > 0:11:56of the tag wearer by plotting the signals on a map.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00There was one habitual criminal on the officers' watch list.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03The suspect hadn't long been out of prison.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06It was a matter of days between him coming out of prison
0:12:06 > 0:12:08and being fitted with a tag.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11We asked him whether or not he wanted to wear a tag
0:12:11 > 0:12:13and he agreed. He volunteered to wear one,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15so one was fitted to him.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Let's get this right.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19A suspect actually volunteered
0:12:19 > 0:12:20to wear a GPS tag
0:12:20 > 0:12:23that shows his whereabouts 24/7?
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Sure enough, it seems he was the Christmas crim the officers were looking for.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Once we checked the suspect's tag against the offence locations
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and the times between which the offences were committed
0:12:36 > 0:12:41we were able to see that there was a link between the suspect and the offences.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Surely no criminal could be as dim as this, could they?
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Well, over the course of 14 days,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49the GPS tag recorded each of his seven crimes.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54He'd stolen presents from the homes of the elderly and vulnerable
0:12:54 > 0:12:57but now he had given police an extraordinary gift.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Sergeant Comfort is analysing the route taken by the robber
0:13:02 > 0:13:05on the sixth of his seven break-ins.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08As you can see, it shows him walking down this road
0:13:08 > 0:13:12and the cluster of points shows that he was in one place
0:13:12 > 0:13:14for a longer period of time.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17This is where the offence location was
0:13:17 > 0:13:20and this is how we linked him to the burglary.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23This is priceless.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25A burglar wearing a tracker!
0:13:25 > 0:13:29For police, all their Christmases had come at once.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33The GPS tracker didn't just put the hapless thief at the scene of the crime.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Most crucially of all,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39we were able to ascertain where he'd been, who he'd been speaking to,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42what sort of premises he'd been to.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44The dozy deviant was leaving a trail
0:13:44 > 0:13:48so bright the police could even track down the stolen property.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52We were able to identify where the stolen property had been
0:13:52 > 0:13:57disposed of and to whom, which led to us recovering
0:13:57 > 0:14:00a number of items of jewellery from some second hand shops.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04By tracing the cloth-headed criminals' movements,
0:14:04 > 0:14:10the police could access CCTV from the area - which reaped further rewards.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11This in turn gave us
0:14:11 > 0:14:15the identity of another offender who had been involved in the offences.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Having sold their ill-gotten gains, the pair were caught on CCTV
0:14:20 > 0:14:23with wads of cash, plus a mobile phone
0:14:23 > 0:14:25that turned out to have been stolen.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29All of these things proved crucial in convicting them.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32The evidence was overwhelming.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35He'd been out of prison for just two weeks,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37but now the Christmas kleptomaniac
0:14:37 > 0:14:40found himself back inside for TWO YEARS!
0:14:40 > 0:14:43His accomplice, a three-time offender, got three years!
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Ultimately the GPS tag was his downfall -
0:14:47 > 0:14:51he didn't believe that this system was as reliable or robust
0:14:51 > 0:14:54as we had spelled out to him that it was
0:14:54 > 0:14:56when he first had it fitted to him.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58I can only put this down to sheer stupidity.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Let's return to our own undercover surveillance operation.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Earlier, we fitted a GPS tracker into a designer watch display box
0:15:18 > 0:15:23and went to the bustling streets of Westminster,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27London's top borough for personal theft.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29While our victim was distracted on the phone,
0:15:29 > 0:15:30this happened.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39The handbag with our watch inside was snatched by this woman
0:15:39 > 0:15:43in a stripy top, shielded by her accomplice before they sneaked off.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49These people are professional thieves.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51They'll have their part of London,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53their part of the town that they'll operate in.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54They're confident,
0:15:54 > 0:15:56they're comfortable in that particular area -
0:15:56 > 0:15:58they usually work as a team.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00As you can see from this particular clip,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02at the start of it, there's two women that look at the bag.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Their attention is drawn to it. They go their separate ways
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and the woman who actually does take the bag comes back with a gent,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13with a man so there's a sort of a mix and match team here if you like
0:16:13 > 0:16:16and they will cut that to fit whichever crime they want to use.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Time to let the tracker do its job.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24We can see from the signal that the thief made her way south
0:16:24 > 0:16:28towards London's famous Chinatown area.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Keith is on the case.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38The thief struck at 6pm - within eight minutes,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40the data showed that the watch was here in this alleyway
0:16:40 > 0:16:42which is a short distance
0:16:42 > 0:16:44from Gerard Street and Macclesfield Street.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46The signal stays here for several minutes
0:16:46 > 0:16:50in a quiet area behind several Chinese restaurants,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53well away from the busy street.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56There are various reasons why a thief would want to come
0:16:56 > 0:16:59to a secluded spot like this - to have a look through the property
0:16:59 > 0:17:01to see what they want to keep, maybe to meet their handler
0:17:01 > 0:17:05and to pass the goods on, it may be to hide the goods to come back to
0:17:05 > 0:17:09at a later time, erm, any one of those scenarios might be the reason.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14It's likely the thief is checking out the bag
0:17:14 > 0:17:16to see what she's stolen.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20There's plenty of opportunity to dump what she can't sell.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23In an alleyway like this, there's a number of dumpster bins
0:17:23 > 0:17:25where a thief could take their property, take it away,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28discard anything they don't like in the bin and of course
0:17:28 > 0:17:31there are two or three takeaway services by the council
0:17:31 > 0:17:35on this each day, therefore the property that's discarded,
0:17:35 > 0:17:36go into the bin and it would be whisked away
0:17:36 > 0:17:38without anybody knowing where it's gone.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42It's not long before the tracker kicks into action
0:17:42 > 0:17:44and is on the move again.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The data shows that the watch travelled from Shaftesbury Avenue,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50north into Dean Street and then into
0:17:50 > 0:17:51Romilly Street, which is behind me,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and the signal lasted for about four minutes,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55after which time, it stopped.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57That's not just a temporary failure.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59It's a total, outright loss of signal
0:17:59 > 0:18:03and the only conclusion is that the tracker has been destroyed.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05So what happened?
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Its last report came from the rear of this pub.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11We went to see the manager to show her our surveillance footage
0:18:11 > 0:18:16and ask if she'd seen our suspect - or any other thieves - in action.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18We used to have the girls trying to sell flowers
0:18:18 > 0:18:21who were getting mobile phones in the bottom of their skirts
0:18:21 > 0:18:24so the police came in and cleared out a load of those last year.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28You get people who sort of walk into pubs and target drunk people
0:18:28 > 0:18:30and will actually talk to them,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33you've got hugger muggers, you've got varieties of thieves,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and we have found bags and empty wallets in the toilets.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38We do have a security guard outside,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41but a woman walking in with a bag doesn't look like a bag thief -
0:18:41 > 0:18:43she looks like a woman with a bag
0:18:43 > 0:18:45This is the French House ladies.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48I'm just going to make sure there's no-one in there. Yeah, it's clear.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Hilary showed us where she's found
0:18:50 > 0:18:53discarded stolen property in the past.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56You might get small handbags or purses down there.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01We do find wallets up here.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06I think they're bringing in bags that they've stolen from other pubs.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08There's also The Golden Lion across the road.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11When we've had people who have had bags nicked from outside,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13they've found them in the next pub
0:19:13 > 0:19:16so people grab, go into another place, sort out the goods.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Even so, our stolen handbag and the watch were nowhere to be seen
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and the most likely cause for our tracker's destruction
0:19:24 > 0:19:28is that the thief discovered it while sitting on the loo checking her loot,
0:19:28 > 0:19:32then she threw it out of the window onto the building site next door.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35We checked with the site, but they hadn't seen anything.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39As for the handbag, it's possible that the thief dumped it in a bin
0:19:39 > 0:19:43round the corner in Chinatown. And our designer trinket?
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Unfortunately, it seems that is long gone.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48The only way to find out the watch now would be at the point
0:19:48 > 0:19:52of where it's been sold on which would be a pawn shop
0:19:52 > 0:19:55or an internet site - perhaps eBay or Gumtree
0:19:55 > 0:19:57or an individual seller on the internet.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00A search of local pawn shops and internet sites
0:20:00 > 0:20:03revealed no sign of the watch.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06It seems the thief got away with it this time.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10But we have a hunch that we've seen this criminal before.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13When we recorded test footage for Thief Trackers in June 2014,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16we witnessed a similar bag theft,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18on the opposite side of the same street
0:20:18 > 0:20:21where our latest incident took place.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26It seems likely it's the same woman,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29still up to her bag-snatching tricks a year later.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33So now we have not one,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37but two instances of her sticky-fingered activity on camera
0:20:37 > 0:20:41and the authorities are welcome to take a closer look.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Maybe this sneaky lady will soon be helping the police
0:20:44 > 0:20:45with their inquiries.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57As our surveillance operation shows,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01it only takes a moment for thieves to swipe at our possessions,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03right when we least expect it.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05That's what happened in Gravesend, Kent,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09around 25 miles from central London along the Thames Estuary.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14This historic market town was the setting for an audacious theft
0:21:14 > 0:21:16right from under the victim's nose...
0:21:16 > 0:21:20To me, that bag is worth thousands of pounds. Gut-wrenching!
0:21:20 > 0:21:22..who then turned amateur detective
0:21:22 > 0:21:26by hunting down the thief using mobile tracking technology.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I was running round like a headless chicken.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31I just, er, couldn't believe that that could be done.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36For the past five years, architect David Meaney
0:21:36 > 0:21:40has worked with Jarek Luszcz, his business partner, builder and friend.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45One day in June 2014, they were at work on their latest project,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47a new block of flats.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50It was just a normal day.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Jarek and I came to site - a weekly meeting.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56At that stage, it was just a piece of waste ground land.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59I took my belongings onto site, put the bag down,
0:21:59 > 0:22:03didn't think anything of it and we were looking inside a manhole.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07David uses the latest technology as a kind of portable office,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09taking it wherever he goes.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14One of the key things I need for doing what I do is a tablet -
0:22:14 > 0:22:15keeps track of my diary,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18appointments, clients, contact details.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I had drawings, electronic drawings so yeah,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23what was on there was very important to me
0:22:23 > 0:22:25and I couldn't afford to lose it.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27He may have thought his bag was safe in the middle
0:22:27 > 0:22:31of a busy building site, but a desperate thief can strike anywhere.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35This bag was probably about in the middle of the site.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38We were accompanied by two labourers as well
0:22:38 > 0:22:40so didn't think anything sinister would happen.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Put the lid down,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44came back, looked for my bag and it wasn't there,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46as simple as that.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Yes, unfortunately it really is that simple.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54The building site bag snatcher whipped it away just like this.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58It took a minute to sink in,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00because I thought maybe I put it somewhere else
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and because we didn't see anybody coming in,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04I didn't think it had been stolen
0:23:04 > 0:23:07and I thought perhaps one of your guys had moved it
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and then it sank in that someone had come into the site
0:23:10 > 0:23:12and taken it away.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16We tried to look down the road, but we don't see anything.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19We don't see anyone who carry the bag.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23I had an instant form of nausea. I realised what was in my bag
0:23:23 > 0:23:27and on my tablet was priceless to me so yes, I did feel very sick
0:23:27 > 0:23:31at the time, not knowing if I'd ever get to see my belongings again.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34David's mind rushed through the implications
0:23:34 > 0:23:36of losing his entire working universe in a bag,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39but his colleague proved to be calm in the crisis.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Jarek was clever enough to say, um, what was in the bag
0:23:43 > 0:23:47and I told him my iPad was in there and he said was the item on?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49And I said it was.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53And he said, "Don't worry about it," and he got out his phone.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56So I just ask him does he know his password and login
0:23:56 > 0:24:00and I said, "We can use my iPhone to the track your iPad and your bag."
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Jarek knew that many tablets and phones
0:24:03 > 0:24:06have built in GPS tracking software.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Using his phone to access the internet,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12he logged into David's cloud account and activated the tracker.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15It showed a little flashing dot where the iPad was
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and then he said, "Do you want to go get it? Let's go and get it."
0:24:18 > 0:24:23The map on Jarek's phone pinpointed the location of the stolen tablet -
0:24:23 > 0:24:26unbelievably, it wasn't that far away,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29approaching Gravesend town centre.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32We drove up this road, obviously sticking to the speed limit,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35but it felt like it was faster cos the adrenaline was pumping.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39We were looking out for someone, probably with my bag,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41so yeah, it felt like we were the police
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and we were on our way to catch a criminal.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49They called the police while in not so much hot but lukewarm pursuit,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52they sped as fast as they could in a 20mph street,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55all the while observing the Highway Code.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59We knew that once he'd gone undercover
0:24:59 > 0:25:03or if he stopped messing around with the keypad to unlock it,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05we would then lose our signal.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07If we didn't have a signal, we've got no way of tracking him.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12The thief had now reached Gravesend's pedestrianized High Street.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Our dynamic duo were close so they ditched the car
0:25:16 > 0:25:17and continued the chase on foot.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Faced with a busy street full of shoppers
0:25:21 > 0:25:23and with no idea what the thief looked like,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26they could only hope the tracker
0:25:26 > 0:25:28would lead them right to the villain.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31We were looking for someone who was in close proximity to us
0:25:31 > 0:25:32cos that's what the phone was telling us -
0:25:32 > 0:25:35a matter of metres away - but someone who looked shifty,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38someone who didn't feel comfortable in their environment,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40and we saw a gentleman in front of us who was on his own.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42He had a bag - it wasn't my bag
0:25:42 > 0:25:45so there was no guarantee that it was mine,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47only that the phone was telling me
0:25:47 > 0:25:50that your tablet is only two metres in front of you.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53And we waited for him to walk up and down the street
0:25:53 > 0:25:54to make sure the app on the phone
0:25:54 > 0:25:56was giving us the correct information
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and as he was walking, it was obviously increasing in distance
0:25:59 > 0:26:01so we knew that was our man.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Jumping in without proof could have been embarrassing
0:26:04 > 0:26:08so they managed to creep up close for a sneaky peek in the bag.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11And I look at what he's got on the bag and behind him
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and I see the end of the iPad.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15Thumbs up to each other
0:26:15 > 0:26:18and then that's when the real nerves kicked in - what do we do?
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Do we tackle this guy to the floor?
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Do we say, "Excuse me can we have my things back?"
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Will he draw a knife on us?
0:26:23 > 0:26:26You just don't know what you're tackling at that point.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29If he's a criminal, who's to say he wouldn't do any of those things?
0:26:29 > 0:26:33That's exactly why the police advise against tackling a suspect yourself -
0:26:33 > 0:26:36you can't be sure of a safe outcome.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40But these two were so confident, they decided to chance their arms.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I asked him, "Is it your iPad?"
0:26:44 > 0:26:47He say, "No, I found it in the road,"
0:26:47 > 0:26:48and so we know it is David's.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51David came and I asked him, "David, this is your iPad?"
0:26:51 > 0:26:52And he say, "Yes, definitely my one."
0:26:52 > 0:26:57That old "I found it in the street" ploy wasn't going to wash
0:26:57 > 0:26:59with Kent's answer to Starsky and Hutch.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02We held him - we didn't force him to the floor,
0:27:02 > 0:27:04but we did a full citizen's arrest
0:27:04 > 0:27:06They hung on to their man for ten minutes
0:27:06 > 0:27:11until the police arrived. That must have been an awkward conversation.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15They interviewed him in the back of the van and that was our part done.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17But I was pleased to get the iPad back
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and not too long afterwards, I got a phone call
0:27:19 > 0:27:21from a young lady in the local office,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24asking if I'd lost anything else and I managed to retrieve my bag.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26So, win-win.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28So thanks to Jarek's quick thinking
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and a clever piece of technology,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33they managed to hunt down the bag snatcher
0:27:33 > 0:27:38and recover the stolen tablet, but sadly this is not a common outcome.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42The police said it's very rare that belongings of this nature
0:27:42 > 0:27:44ever get back to the owners.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48They were unaware of the app themselves at the time
0:27:48 > 0:27:51so they were very impressed that we were able to apprehend
0:27:51 > 0:27:54and find the items.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58So what has David taken from this experience?
0:27:58 > 0:28:00I've had my fingers burnt so now I've got the app.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I wouldn't change anything that I did then,
0:28:02 > 0:28:07except I wouldn't leave my things too far out of reach.