0:00:02 > 0:00:05Bag snatchers, robberies and street crime.
0:00:05 > 0:00:10More than 3,500 incidents of theft are reported every day in the UK.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But what happens to our belongings when they're stolen?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Thief Trackers shows how they're taken
0:00:18 > 0:00:19and where they go.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Excuse me, mate, excuse me.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Hiding trackers inside items, like cameras,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28smartphones and bicycles to trace the thieves' every move.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31There he is, there he is. There he is, there he is.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The crooks think they've got away with it,
0:00:34 > 0:00:35but we've got them under surveillance.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38No, man.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Using undercover footage, CCTV and tracking technology,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46we'll uncover the unseen journey our belongings take when they're stolen.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51And we'll shine a light on how easy we make it for thieves to plunder
0:00:51 > 0:00:53our prized possessions.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Today, the thief trackers highlight
0:01:07 > 0:01:09how quickly our valuables can be stolen.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And the impact it can have on any one of us.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Plus, a tracker on the trail of stolen power tools finds himself pursued by the crooks.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27They reversed back out of the parking bay and started
0:01:27 > 0:01:29driving up towards me.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30That was quite scary.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37And a biker gets more than he bargained for when tracking down his stolen motorbike.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39The lad was shouting at me.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42At that point, I thought I was probably out of my depth.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Over the years, Thief Trackers has shown what can happen when you're
0:01:51 > 0:01:53careless with your valuables.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55As we've seen time and again,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58if you don't keep an eye on your property it can get stolen.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03And you at home share our concerns.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Viewers have got in touch worried about friends and family who are
0:02:06 > 0:02:08putting their valuables at risk.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12We've heard countless stories of cavalier attitudes to security.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16People who don't lock things up properly.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Who don't pay enough attention to their belongings...
0:02:21 > 0:02:23..or who are too trusting of strangers.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I'm desperate for the loo.
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Is there any chance I can use your toilet?
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- Thank you.- She's in.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Our viewers are anxious that it is only a matter of time before thieves strike...
0:02:37 > 0:02:39..and their friends become victims of crime.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44So, our undercover team have been asked to give them a wake-up call,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47showing that if they don't have their wits about them,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49their prized possessions will be stolen.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Helping Thief Trackers with our operation is former detective chief
0:03:00 > 0:03:02superintendent Sue Hill,
0:03:02 > 0:03:07who has spent over 30 years tackling crime on the streets of the capital.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10We all let our guard down when you're out socialising,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14because actually the vast majority of us are really nice people and you
0:03:14 > 0:03:15sit with nice people.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19However, it only takes that one person and they'll see that moment
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and they're gone before you know it.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Today's target is on his way to this restaurant for dinner.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28We've rigged the place with hidden cameras,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31so if he's as careless with his property as we've been told,
0:03:31 > 0:03:32we'll try to steal it.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38The team are ready to roll and our man should be arriving at any time.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Are we on, yeah? Did the car just go past?
0:03:40 > 0:03:42It's going to happen any second now.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43Good luck, everyone.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45With everyone in place,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47our guy arrives with his friend.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Oh, hello, mate.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Today's target is 39-year-old Luke.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54He owns an entertainment business.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57And we've heard from his friends and family that he has a habit of leaving
0:03:57 > 0:04:00his phone and wallet on the table when he's out and about.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03And they weren't wrong.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10So, the team are going to show him what could happen if he isn't more careful.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Sitting at the bar is a member of the Thief Tracker squad.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Today, if Luke leaves his stuff unattended, he'll be our thief.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19Luke settles down for dinner.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25The team have asked his friend to find an appropriate time to leave the table.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33- I've just got to go to the loo, mate. Excuse me, where's the toilet, please?- Just over there.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34Thank you.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37With his friend no longer there,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40our thief trackers keep a sharp lookout
0:04:40 > 0:04:42to see if Luke does anything careless.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Hello.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49And this could be it.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51He's taken a call,
0:04:51 > 0:04:56but he has two phones and he's left the other one with his wallet on the table.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59And true to form, he's walked away from his things -
0:04:59 > 0:05:02leaving them unguarded just like his friend said.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Although he's loitering by the door,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07he's now turned his back on his valuables.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10This would be an open invitation to any thief.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11This is our moment.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Later, Luke faces the harsh reality of being a victim of theft.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24My stuff's disappeared, mate.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Building sites have long been a target for thieves,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36with one in five experiencing theft on a weekly basis.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39With heavy plant and tools left on-site overnight,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42it makes for rich pickings for organised gangs.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48But it's not just the large, high-priced equipment that attracts thieves.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Construction manager Peter Carter is well aware of this criminal threat.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55We're a medium sized civil engineering firm, we operate nationally,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58doing anything from roads, sewers, drainage,
0:05:58 > 0:05:59removals and anything in between.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02It is an expensive game.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06The equipment varies in cost from a few hundred pounds up to £7 million.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08As a result, it's quite desirable to thieves.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And they've suffered their fair share of robberies.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13We'd had a lot of thefts.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Some of them are small value ones, some of them are large.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Each break-in costs us about £10,000 excess for every insurance claim.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Causes a big delay in production and it's generally an all-round kick in the teeth.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28So, we'd become quite frustrated from having a lot of disruption caused by
0:06:28 > 0:06:29small plant being stolen,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33so we've decided to try and fit some of the trackers we regularly fit in
0:06:33 > 0:06:36larger plant into some of our smaller equipment.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40So they turn to Peter Thompson's tracking company for help.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It's quite an unusual item that we were tracking,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46it was a saw used for cutting into concrete and heavy materials,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48so the actual value of the item is only a few hundred pounds,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50but they were getting hit really hard
0:06:50 > 0:06:51with particular types of tool theft
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and they were getting hit in the same areas,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55and they really just wanted to put a stop to it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57We fitted trackers to two disc cutters.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00One of these saws we would generally buy for about £500.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01It's a small item,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05they're very easy to pick up and walk away with and quite untraceable.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10And sure enough, the weekend after they had fitted trackers,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13their building site in Reading was targeted once again.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Thieves broke in and ransacked the place,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23making off with two of their valuable cutting saws.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36The guys came in on the Monday morning to find our containers ripped open,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38plant strewn everywhere,
0:07:38 > 0:07:39machinery taken out the place
0:07:39 > 0:07:43and just the nasty aftermath of a break-in.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45So, once we realised what had been stolen,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47we realised some of the items had trackers in.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Straight away, we phoned Peter to get him and his team into action.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54We were first notified of the theft of the cutting saw probably about
0:07:54 > 0:07:568.30am in the morning.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58We immediately deployed an investigator,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00in this case John Mussett,
0:08:00 > 0:08:01who went down to site.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06So, I had a look at the last location that they'd given,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08which was in the early hours of the morning.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10They were showing about five miles away from the site.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15So, when I was about an hour away from Reading,
0:08:15 > 0:08:16the office contacted me to say
0:08:16 > 0:08:18that the track circle had moved and they'd
0:08:18 > 0:08:21been looking at it every few minutes.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23It had actually moved up to Henley-on-Thames.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25So, from that,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27we were of the opinion obviously
0:08:27 > 0:08:30that wherever the two stolen saws were,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32they were on the move, probably in a vehicle.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38While I diverted to go through Henley,
0:08:38 > 0:08:39they actually then moved back again,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43the track circles, back to where they'd been originally in Reading.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48I picked up a signal on the range finder.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50That had taken me into an estate
0:08:50 > 0:08:53where I'd ended up near to a corner shop.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57The two suspect vehicles parked near to the corner shop.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59A people carrier with one person in it,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02one male initially outside the corner shop,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and a van just on the opposite corner, which was unoccupied.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Wasn't sure which vehicle the signal was coming from.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10He had to call the police at that point,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12because it's not safe for him to go in
0:09:12 > 0:09:13and identify which vehicle without
0:09:13 > 0:09:16revealing his identity to people that are watching.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19So, he called the police in, but at that moment,
0:09:19 > 0:09:20one of the vehicles drove away.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24And the tracking signal was also on the move.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Which then told me that the stolen items were in the back of that
0:09:29 > 0:09:31particular vehicle.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34John was hot on their heels.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37To be fair, it was probably one of the slowest pursuits I've ever been involved in.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42It is very difficult to follow somebody at such a slow speed
0:09:42 > 0:09:44and there were not many vehicles about.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46It was literally, they were in front of me,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48I was trying to keep a decent distance between us.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53But at some point I think they had realised, probably quite early on,
0:09:53 > 0:09:54that I was following them.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59The thieves were constantly going around the estate,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01kind of in a bit of a figure of eight, really.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04It was all quite slow speed and then they went down a cul-de-sac.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08I was aware it was a cul-de-sac and obviously wasn't going to
0:10:08 > 0:10:11follow one of them to the bottom of it and leave myself vulnerable.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16So, I stopped where another road came off the cul-de-sac.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21And then waited, literally a minute,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23and they reversed back out of the parking bay
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and started driving up towards me.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It was quite scary, to be honest.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33I then took the decision that I wasn't just going to sit there
0:10:33 > 0:10:35to give them the opportunity to block me in.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38So, I actually set off in front of them and then for probably
0:10:38 > 0:10:41about four or five minutes, they were following me.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45As the chase continued, John kept the police updated,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49but the power tool thieves were closing in, right on his tail.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53That's quite scary. When I heard the sirens, it was a big relief, yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58In total it probably wasn't that long, it seemed like a long time.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00The police were coming from the opposite direction.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03We'd gone onto the main road at this point.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So, I told the police there were no other vehicles between them and the subject vehicle.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08They basically just pulled across the road
0:11:08 > 0:11:13straight in front of it and kind of did a tactical stop.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16The chase was over and, thanks to the tracker,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18they'd caught the crooks red-handed,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21around eight hours from when the saws were stolen.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The police had straightaway opened the driver's and passenger door
0:11:24 > 0:11:27and got the two occupants out of the vehicle.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30They detained them. But another officer went and searched the boot,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34opened the boot of the vehicle, and there were the two stolen cutting saws in the boot.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I wasn't told till later on that they'd actually found,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43I think it was at least two offensive weapons.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46There was a pool ball in a sock and also a knife.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50As well as quite a large quantity of drugs.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53The thieves got their just deserts.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58Sentenced to two years for both burglary and drug offences.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00The really positive thing that's come out of this is that
0:12:00 > 0:12:02the sting operation was actually successful.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Since that time,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06there have been no further saws stolen or other items that they were
0:12:06 > 0:12:08targeting with the sting operation,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12and we appear to have disrupted that criminal network's activity.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14The trackers were paramount.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Without the trackers, we wouldn't have got the saws back.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20And the customer was really happy, they were over the moon with it.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23With this theft, we found out that the items had been stolen about
0:12:23 > 0:12:25eight o'clock in the morning, and by about four,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28five o'clock in the evening they'd been recovered
0:12:28 > 0:12:29and that is a fantastic feeling.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38We're returning to the Thief Trackers' undercover operation,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42showing how easy we make it for thieves to steal our property.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52Earlier, the team rigged a restaurant with hidden cameras to await Luke -
0:12:52 > 0:12:55a DJ, whose friends have told us doesn't pay enough attention to his
0:12:55 > 0:12:57valuables when he's out.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59And they were right.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03During his meal, he left his phone and wallet unattended on the table.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06And our man undercover is in position to strike.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11Luke moves over to the doorway, possibly to get a better signal.
0:13:11 > 0:13:12But as his friends predicted,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16he unbelievably turns his back on his belongings -
0:13:16 > 0:13:18an ideal opportunity for a thief to pounce.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25And here goes our team member, with Luke just yards away at the door.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30He goes for it...
0:13:31 > 0:13:33..and grabs the phone and wallet.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36His friends knew this would happen.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Luke turned his back for just a second or two,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41but this was enough for our man to strike.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It's that quick.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46In a flash, your valuables can be gone.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Our thief then makes his escape out the back door.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54And as he makes off with the property, unchallenged,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56Luke is totally oblivious.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58He shows so little regard for his valuables,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02he even steps outside unaware he has just been robbed.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06He returns.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09So, how long will it be before he realises
0:14:09 > 0:14:11his phone and wallet are missing?
0:14:20 > 0:14:21He's noticed.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25But he's not sure if he's misplaced them or if they've been stolen.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34The penny has dropped -
0:14:34 > 0:14:37the stark realisation that his things have been stolen.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40The question now is - what does he do?
0:14:57 > 0:15:01By this time, a real thief could have taken any money in the wallet,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04cloned his bank cards or gone to a cashpoint
0:15:04 > 0:15:05and cleaned out his account.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09The phone might have been sold or passed along the criminal chain
0:15:09 > 0:15:10all in a matter of minutes.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- What's happened?- Hello, mate.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19He's saying that he's left his stuff there and it's all gone.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21My stuff's disappeared, mate.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I've literally gone out for two seconds.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- You popped out for a couple of seconds.- My case, everything.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Has one of the other members of staff picked it up?
0:15:28 > 0:15:30No, you didn't even go over there, did you?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Only you was sitting there.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- What's going on?- And someone else, some bloke walked past me.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39I don't know where he's gone.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- Haven't you got a camera? - I've got a camera, don't worry, don't worry.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- I've got cameras. - What are you ringing?
0:15:45 > 0:15:46Your phone number?
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Well, let's have a look outside, see if...
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It looks like Luke is about to cancel all his bank cards -
0:15:55 > 0:15:58a wise move if ever your cards are stolen.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00But in this case, he doesn't need to,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03so time for the Thief Trackers to step in.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Come on, I think we might have to get involved in this.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Luke?
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Hi. My name's Paul, I'm a TV producer.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14I just stole your property.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Don't cancel anything, everything is safe, we have all your belongings.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Would you like to go on a little walk with us
0:16:22 > 0:16:24and recover your property?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Well, yeah, I need to recover my property, don't I?
0:16:27 > 0:16:29I'm having that.
0:16:29 > 0:16:30Down it, down it!
0:16:34 > 0:16:36We've got a tracker on your property right now.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- There.- And I'd like you to walk with us to recover it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Using the smartphone's in-built tracking software,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Luke is able to follow the trail of his phone to recover it.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47He'd left to go to the toilet,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50my phone went and they couldn't hear me.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52So, I moved and I saw someone walk past me.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I did look back.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58But they'd already gone past my table.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01There was a woman sitting there, so I just...
0:17:02 > 0:17:04..carried on with the call.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08How quickly did you realise that your stuff was gone?
0:17:08 > 0:17:09As soon as I got back.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14I thought maybe it's under something or I dropped it, I checked myself.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19And, yeah, obviously it wasn't there.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22It doesn't matter how safe you think you are -
0:17:22 > 0:17:24never leave your valuables alone.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I suppose you get a little bit complacent with things.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30There was no-one in there either.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33And usually, we'd go out, we go to the same place,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37everyone kind of knows you and you're not really worried about your stuff.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40If it was busy, I might have been a bit more cautious.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Whether it's busy or not,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44turning your back on your belongings
0:17:44 > 0:17:46is an open invitation to have them stolen.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50My dad's been in security for years,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53so growing up with that,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57you get it to rub off on you.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59So, he's always told me, you know,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02make sure you know your exits and you check all your surroundings.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06So, I kind of feel like I do that in some sense.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- But not this time.- But, yeah, obviously not enough.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Do you think this little exercise might make you rethink how casual you are with your belongings?
0:18:15 > 0:18:20I've got a credit card, I've got current account.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21It's my work phone as well,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24so I've got a whole load of stuff on there to do
0:18:24 > 0:18:29with all the up-and-coming work that I've got going on.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- So, basically your whole life... - The more I think about it,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35there's actually quite a lot that I'd lose out on.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40It's actually horrible. I feel a bit sick thinking about it.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Looks like he's learnt his lesson.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46In just a few seconds, Luke thought he'd lost his phone,
0:18:46 > 0:18:47wallet and cards to thieves.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54But with the help of the tracker, he could locate them.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Not everyone is that lucky.
0:18:58 > 0:18:59I'll check it all, yeah.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06Our crime analyst, Sue Hill, takes a look at our undercover hit.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10He's completely unaware that his wallet and his phone's gone.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13In many ways, it's probably worse that the restaurant was empty,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15because then you haven't got so many eyes
0:19:15 > 0:19:17looking at you or seeing the person
0:19:17 > 0:19:19that's going to do the stealing.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22The thief would be able to get away quicker and not be seen because
0:19:22 > 0:19:25there are less witnesses to identify the crime and see what's going on.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28The bottom line is - you don't know who you're dealing with,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30and when you leave your property on that table,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33don't leave it for somebody else to take,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36cos your hard work will be someone else's reward.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40So, just don't leave your property around.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44And to be on the safe side, try to use a tracking device.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46In most smartphones, they're installed as standard.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51An advocate of this in-built tracking system is tech journalist
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and gadget guru Stuart Miles.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58So, the idea is that you turn the system on on your phone,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01it's always on in the background, you don't really realise it's going,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03and then when it comes to finding your device,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06you can log in with your account details on a third device -
0:20:06 > 0:20:11on a laptop or someone else's phone - and see where your device is.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17It will ping a location beacon to say, "Hey, I'm over here!"
0:20:18 > 0:20:21As long as the device is connected to the internet,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23either through a wireless network or through your phone network,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26then it can tell you where it is for you to be able to locate it.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33The idea is that once you've activated the service, then it kind of deters
0:20:33 > 0:20:35people from stealing your phone.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38There's been quite a few case studies over the years.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41People had realised their phone had gone and was able to check
0:20:41 > 0:20:44the service and then apprehend the thief
0:20:44 > 0:20:47within actually the same festival in that case
0:20:47 > 0:20:49or go round to where they live and say,
0:20:49 > 0:20:50"Er, you've got my phone."
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I'd advise people to use the service proactively when they get the phone
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and it hasn't been stolen.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59You can't really use it once it's been stolen.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03You have to have the device to be able to turn on the service.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04So, it's one of those things,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08there's no point closing the door after the horse has bolted, because
0:21:08 > 0:21:10you've had to turn it on in the first place.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I think it's a brilliant service for allowing you to locate your phone,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17whether you've lost it yourself or it has been stolen.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19But there's also an air of caution here.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21If you go off trying to hunt down your phone,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25it might take you to a place where you're not really comfortable going,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28or people that you might not be wanting to meet.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32And at that point, if you feel scared,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34then you should probably phone the police.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42More than a million Brits opt for two wheels on the open road.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46It's the freedom, the affordability and, for some, the power.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51The bond between a biker and their motorcycle can be a very tight one.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Some riders think of their machines as one of their family,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58like Leeds-based kitchen manager Craig Alford.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02I love my bike just as much as I love my children, if anything.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It's an amazing bike, you can do anything to it.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Touch wood, I haven't come off it yet.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08HE LAUGHS
0:22:09 > 0:22:13His latest bike is a 750cc superbike.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Brand-new, it costs around £10,000.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20So, even second-hand, these machines are quite a target for bike thieves,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23as Craig is all too aware.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27I've been a victim of bike theft four times,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30which was why as soon as I got my superbike I put a tracker on it
0:22:30 > 0:22:35straightaway, so if it did get stolen I've got that peace of mind knowing
0:22:35 > 0:22:38that I've got a chance of getting it back.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Craig turned to a relatively new local tracking company
0:22:42 > 0:22:45set up by biking enthusiast Richard Holmes.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50My inspiration was really to stop my friends' motorbikes being stolen.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52I got tired,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56I got upset seeing how many stolen bike posts were shared on Facebook,
0:22:56 > 0:23:01how many heartbreaking stories of somebody losing not only their pride and joy,
0:23:01 > 0:23:05but their way to get to work, their leisure time on the weekend,
0:23:05 > 0:23:10thousands of pounds worth of cash all just taken away by somebody.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Using the latest satellite technology,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16they can keep track of their customers' prized possessions.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Our trackers work by looking up...
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Once you phone them, they look up at the sky for GPS positioning.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29The unit then texts the owner with an accurate position that is
0:23:29 > 0:23:32openable in any kind of common map app.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It wasn't long after he had the tracker installed that Craig would have to
0:23:38 > 0:23:39test out this new system.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43I was running a bit late for work,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47so I didn't take my locks with me to secure my bike up.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It was just one of those days that I didn't lock it up.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55His unlocked bike was a sitting duck.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57It got stolen.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02His schoolboy error gave thieves an opportunity to steal thousands of
0:24:02 > 0:24:04pounds worth of motorbike.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08I was shocked, angry,
0:24:08 > 0:24:09I was frustrated.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13It was time to test out his security system.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16I contacted the tracker.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18It then gave me its location.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Erm...
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And then I felt at ease, because I knew where it was.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28The tracking data indicated his bike wasn't far away,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30just a few miles on the outskirts of Leeds.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38I started making my way to the location and it wasn't until I was
0:24:38 > 0:24:42about five minutes away, I then contacted the police.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46I just said to them, "My bike's fitted with a GPS tracker,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49"I have its location and I'm en route,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51"so I'd like the police to be there when I arrive."
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Craig managed to get to the location before the police,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59but was in no mood to hold on.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05When I arrived at the location, unfortunately, me being me,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07I didn't wait for the police,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10knocked straight onto their front door.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I said, "Look, my bike's fitted with a GPS tracker
0:25:13 > 0:25:17"and it's given me this address as the location."
0:25:19 > 0:25:22The woman who answered the door denied all knowledge.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26They then said, "No, there's nothing here."
0:25:26 > 0:25:28So I said, you know, "Do you mind opening your garage,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31"just for my peace of mind?"
0:25:31 > 0:25:34They obliged, we walked around together.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39She opened up the garage and there was my bike just sat in her garage.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41He'd found his bike quite quickly,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44so it's likely the thieves were still in the area.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Craig needed backup and fast.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50As I was waiting for the police to arrive,
0:25:50 > 0:25:55I'd walked back down onto the street and then as I stood there waiting,
0:25:55 > 0:26:00two lads basically curveballed right past me.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Very stupidly, I then chased after them.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07One of the lads who was on the moped, he rode off down the road.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12The lad that was on the R1, I thought he'd stalled the bike.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15He saw that I was catching up on him.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18He then jumped off the bike and then ran off down the road.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20And it turns out the ditched bike was also stolen.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Instead of riding off,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28they parked up and one of the two men approached Craig.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Things were turning nasty.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31The lad was shouting at me.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38It was at that point I thought I was probably out of my depth a bit.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Thankfully, the police arrived before Craig came to any harm
0:26:42 > 0:26:44and the two bike thieves scarpered.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50When I heard that Craig had challenged the thieves directly,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52my initial thoughts were panic.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57The worst situation for me is to see one of our customers getting injured
0:26:57 > 0:26:59or attacked for a motorbike.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02The police do an excellent job,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05we have a fantastic working relationship with the police,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and I beg everybody - do not try to tackle thieves on your own.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11It was a narrow escape for Craig...
0:27:12 > 0:27:15..but thanks to his tenacity and the tracker,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19his bike wasn't the only stolen machine recovered that day.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22The Yamaha R1 was stolen.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24It unfortunately took some damage when it hit the floor,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27cos when the bike thief jumped off, it was still rolling.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Reunited with his pride and joy, Craig was ecstatic.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34It felt like Christmas.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40You ask Santa for what you want and you open it up and it's there,
0:27:40 > 0:27:41you've got it.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46MOTORBIKE ENGINE HUMS
0:27:47 > 0:27:50When Craig got his bike back, I was over the moon.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Quite simply, I take a lot of pride in my work,
0:27:53 > 0:27:54I care about bikers.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59When a bike gets stolen, I feel like it's my bike being stolen.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04So, when Craig recovered his bike, I was just overjoyed.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08BIKE ENGINE