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.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15But what happens to our belongings when they're stolen?
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Thief Trackers shows how they're taken and where they go.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Excuse me, mate. Excuse me.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Hiding trackers inside items like cameras, smartphones
0:00:25 > 0:00:28and bicycles to trace the thieves' every move.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31There he is, there he is, there he is.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33The crooks think they've got away with it.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35But we've got them under surveillance.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38No, man. No, 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 > 0:00:50And we'll shine a light on how easy we make it for thieves
0:00:50 > 0:00:52to plunder our prized possessions.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Today, we highlight the dangers of bogus caller crime...
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I'm desperate for the loo, is there any chance and can use your toilet?
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Thank you.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..as we show how easy it is to con your way
0:01:14 > 0:01:16into someone's home and steal from them.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18You don't think that sort of thing happens to you
0:01:18 > 0:01:20but it does, obviously.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Plus, bikers help track down reckless motorbike thieves
0:01:23 > 0:01:24caught on camera.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27He sent me a photograph saying, "Is this your bike?"
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And boat engine burglars are caught red-handed
0:01:31 > 0:01:33thanks to tracking technology.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37The outward motors is a huge, huge theft problem at the moment.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42We hit 96 million euros of loss just in outboard engines.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Some of the sailing clubs have come and found that the whole
0:01:45 > 0:01:48back of the boat has been cut off, probably with a chainsaw.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Over the years, Thief Trackers has shown what can happen
0:01:55 > 0:01:57when you're careless with your valuables.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01As we've seen time and again, if you don't keep an eye on your property,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03it can get stolen.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08And you at home share our concerns.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Viewers have got in touch, worried about friends and family
0:02:11 > 0:02:13who are putting their valuables at risk.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17We've heard countless stories of cavalier attitudes to security.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20People who don't lock things up properly...
0:02:22 > 0:02:25..who don't pay enough attention to their belongings...
0:02:25 > 0:02:28..or who are too trusting of strangers.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30My stuff's disappeared, mate.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Our viewers are anxious that it is only a matter of time
0:02:33 > 0:02:34before thieves strike...
0:02:38 > 0:02:40..and their friends become victims of crime.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45So our undercover team have been asked to give them a wake-up call,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47showing that if they don't have their wits about them
0:02:47 > 0:02:50when they're out and about, or even at home,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52their prized possessions will be stolen.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Today, we're looking at the thieves who con their way into our homes.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Helping Thief Trackers with our operation is
0:03:01 > 0:03:04former Detective Chief Superintendent Sue Hill,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07who has spent over 30 years tackling crime
0:03:07 > 0:03:08on the streets of the capital.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10I think people become complacent.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14If you're not in a high crime area and you're living in suburbia,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16where crime levels are low,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19well, how easy is it for somebody to turn up,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23pitch up at your address and you think, "Oh, it's OK"?
0:03:23 > 0:03:25It could be, "I'm an electrician,"
0:03:25 > 0:03:27or, "I'm somebody that needs to check the water metre."
0:03:27 > 0:03:29You've got a good excuse to get in.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33It could be somebody that goes in, doesn't take anything,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36but then lets somebody else know that you can commit burglary easy
0:03:36 > 0:03:40because there's a nice TV, there's a wallet,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43tell everybody the layout of the property.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48And this is a classic example of how trusting the public are.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Today's target lives in a quiet neighbourhood.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54His family are concerned that he's too complacent
0:03:54 > 0:03:56when it comes to home security
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and worry it won't be long before he's ripped off.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02So the Thief Trackers team are rigging the place
0:04:02 > 0:04:03with hidden cameras.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07And when he comes home, we're going to try and con our way in,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10steal his keys and drive off with his van.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15With everyone in place, our man arrives.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Today's target is Matt. He owns a print and design company
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and regularly deals with business enquiries at his home.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30We've been told by his family that he is too trusting and relaxed
0:04:30 > 0:04:32when it comes to home security.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36So the team are going to show him what could happen
0:04:36 > 0:04:37if he isn't more careful.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42If we are going to steal his van, first, we need to get the keys,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44which are indoors.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Our thief tracker is posing as a possible new business contact.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50All right, you're on.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53And she is going to prey on Matt's trusting nature
0:04:53 > 0:04:55to con her way into the house.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57If his family are right,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00she should have plenty of opportunities to steal his keys.
0:05:06 > 0:05:12- Hello.- Hey, I'm here to pick up some T-shirt sample sizes.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Oh, brilliant. Can I be really annoying?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I'm desperate for the loo, is there any chance I can use your toilet?
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- Thank you.- And just as we were told, without hesitation,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Matt's let a complete stranger into his house.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29And in full view, sitting on the kitchen worktop, are his van keys.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Great, thank you.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36Thanks for that.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Matt's distracted by a phone call and isn't paying any attention
0:05:42 > 0:05:44to the stranger in his house.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48She's now got free run of the place.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50And with the van keys still there on the worktop,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53our thief tracker makes her move and grabs them.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00He thinks this is a business opportunity,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and so Matt is totally trusting of our thief tracker...
0:06:03 > 0:06:04Thank you so much.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07..unaware she's walking off with the keys to his van.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10That's stage one of the operation.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I'm literally shaking.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14It was so hard.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Later, we'll steal the van.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21And Matt will face the harsh reality of being a victim of theft.
0:06:35 > 0:06:382016 saw the total number of motorbikes on our roads
0:06:38 > 0:06:41rise to around 1.2 million.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46However, this increase has also seen an upsurge in bike crime.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Over 600 motorbikes are stolen each week.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54That's a biker's worst nightmare,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56especially if, like Andy Williams,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59your pride and joy is special to you.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03My bike is built originally for racing in the desert,
0:07:03 > 0:07:07for off-road and on road, and it's a gorgeous bike.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Classic bike.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I bought it when I was living in Belgium in 1989
0:07:14 > 0:07:16and it's been with me in different countries,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18different places, ever since.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23For me it's not the speed, it's the freedom.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28One afternoon, Andy made a quick trip to the local shopping centre
0:07:28 > 0:07:29in Northampton.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I'd gone there to go off and just do an errand,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36went off for 15 minutes or so...
0:07:38 > 0:07:39..came back and there it was, gone.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45There was almost like there was a pause in time
0:07:45 > 0:07:47as I kind of worked out exactly where I was,
0:07:47 > 0:07:48if I was in the right place.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Andy frantically looked for his bike and got a lead from
0:07:51 > 0:07:53the parking attendant.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56He said, "Well, yes, I saw some guys go off on a big bike
0:07:56 > 0:07:58"up through that alley,"
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and as mine was the only big bike that had been there, that was it.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05So after that I knew something bad had happened.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Straightaway, he called the police.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11I called the 101 number to report it stolen.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Took the details, and then I went and got the bus and went home.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22I was feeling really dejected. I was kicking myself for being in a rush,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25I should have locked it up and so on and so forth.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27I, frankly, wasn't very optimistic.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Fearing he'd never see his bike again,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Andy decided to try and track it down himself.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34He went online,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37putting the word out to the biker community on social media.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40There are a whole load of bikers' networks,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43one or two national ones and another local one.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Put pictures on, all the details,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49when, where, and my fingers crossed, hoping something would happen.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52And then I went to bed and slept very badly.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56The next morning, he logged back on to see
0:08:56 > 0:08:58if there were any traces of his bike.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I'd have a look on the phone to see if anybody had responded
0:09:01 > 0:09:04from my various postings, and there had been some,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07people wishing me luck, people saying they had reposted it.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11And then I got this call from Anastassia,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15who it turned out was a member of the Northampton bikers' community.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17And what she'd done, she'd sent me a photograph saying,
0:09:17 > 0:09:18"Is this your bike?"
0:09:20 > 0:09:22And it was.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Local biker Anastassia was out on a ride,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26waiting at some traffic lights.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Lucky for Andy, she had a camera fitted to her crash helmet.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35I heard another motorcyclist was on the same level as me,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39so I just turned my head and there was a young lad
0:09:39 > 0:09:42sitting on quite good and expensive motorbike.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46So I was just thinking that a guy without proper gear,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49in a cheap helmet, sitting on this kind of bike
0:09:49 > 0:09:51seems very strange for me.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53So I called her and said, you know, "Where was this?"
0:09:53 > 0:09:55And she said, "In Northampton."
0:09:55 > 0:09:57And she said, "A guy pulled up next to me
0:09:57 > 0:09:58"and he pulled a wheelie."
0:10:00 > 0:10:04I said to myself, this guy's just so arrogant doing this.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09It kind of gave me a lot of hope because I thought, if he's local,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12I can at least take my car out and start looking.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16You know, it suggested to me that it was still around.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19As Andy took to the streets,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22his social media campaign began to pay off.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27I started to get messages on SMS,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33they're coming in from all sorts of places.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And one lead gave Andy concrete evidence
0:10:36 > 0:10:38his bike was still in the area.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43I got this message with a photograph attached and the SMS message itself
0:10:43 > 0:10:45said, "They're outside my house."
0:10:47 > 0:10:50And the photograph was a picture of my bike with a rider on it,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52just parked outside the house,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55so that was very promising.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Except that something even stranger happened on the way.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02I parked to check again the map, where it was.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06There I was, checking the map, and the bike drove by me.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12So, once the amazement had worn off, which took a split second,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I started off. I didn't chase it cos that would have been dangerous,
0:11:15 > 0:11:16but I followed it at a distance.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21The amateur detective was closing in on the thieves
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and trailed them around the area until they turned down a close.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32And there it was. Two riders and I think about six of their mates
0:11:32 > 0:11:34just around the bike, talking.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37So I was parked at the top end of the close and they were parked
0:11:37 > 0:11:39down the bottom and I was watching them.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Although desperate to retrieve his bike,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44with such a large group to contend with, he knew it wasn't safe
0:11:44 > 0:11:48to confront them and needed to call in the professionals.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52At that point I did call 999 because it was something happening.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54So, I waited.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Before the police arrived, the thieves made off with the bike.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04I followed them again but it was up to the end of the street
0:12:04 > 0:12:06where I couldn't go any further.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10It's off-road bike, so they had taken it across some grassland
0:12:10 > 0:12:13over to the next road, but I couldn't follow them.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16I went off back towards home and then I got an SMS.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22And the SMS, and I still have it, the SMS said, "We've got your bike.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23"Come and collect it."
0:12:23 > 0:12:26And I thought, "Really?"
0:12:26 > 0:12:30So all of a sudden, from feeling dejected,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32there I was back on a high again.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36It turned out that the wife of one of the members of the community
0:12:36 > 0:12:39saw my bike outside their house.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41They chased them out and into a field.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45They ditched the bike then ran off.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49So there he was with my bike in the middle of a field.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53I was truly amazed. It had been literally 28 hours
0:12:53 > 0:12:56since it had been stolen and there it was, it was back again!
0:12:58 > 0:13:00So there I was back with my love, my bike.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03I was close to ecstatic.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I mean, the first feeling was, "OK, what have they done to it?"
0:13:06 > 0:13:09but in fact it turned out to be in pretty good shape.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11There were some scratches in the paintwork,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14the clutch had been damaged because they been doing wheelies
0:13:14 > 0:13:18two and three up, but it was good enough to get me home.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Now reunited with his bike,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Andy wasn't going to make the same mistake again.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Always lock up your bike.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Now I have bought an extra heavy chain, I chain the bike up properly,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33I put a tracker on it so that if anything were to happen now
0:13:33 > 0:13:34I can also locate it.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Just generally being more careful about looking after it.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41If it were to ever happen again or I heard anybody it happened to,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I would say, go on social networks, tell them about it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48One of the best places to go to is your own community, your own people,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50bikers especially.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01We're returning to the Thief Trackers' undercover operation,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05showing how easy we make it for thieves to steal our property.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Print and design businessman Matt's family had told us he just doesn't
0:14:09 > 0:14:12take his home security seriously enough,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14that he's too trusting of people he doesn't know.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- OK, let's go.- And they were right,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20as one of the Thief Trackers conned her way into his house...
0:14:20 > 0:14:23I'm desperate for the loo. Any chance I can use your toilet?
0:14:23 > 0:14:24Thank you.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26..and took the keys to his van.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33The coast is clear, so our thief tracker makes his move.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47In seconds, Matt's van has been stolen from outside his house
0:14:47 > 0:14:49and he's totally unaware.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Lucky for Matt, we're only taking it a short distance away.
0:14:55 > 0:14:56And if this was a real theft,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00his van would be long gone before he discovers it's missing.
0:15:00 > 0:15:01My van's gone!
0:15:03 > 0:15:04Jo!
0:15:17 > 0:15:19It was there, Jo. It's not there now.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43The harsh reality of being a victim of crime is sinking in.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Before Matt calls the police, we send back our thief tracker.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- Oh, hiya!- Hello there.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55I just looked at the T-shirts and I'm missing a size small.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Missing a size small, Jo.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01My van's just got nicked, hasn't it?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04- Your what?- My van was there earlier, wasn't it?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Yeah. It's got nicked?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08I think so.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09Did you see anyone take it?
0:16:13 > 0:16:14How could they have done that?
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- I don't understand how someone's taken your van.- No, nor do I.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23So you didn't hear anything?
0:16:23 > 0:16:26No, I've been working on my computer out the back.
0:16:26 > 0:16:27You can't hear the front,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30so you're out there tapping away, doing quotes and that, so...
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Has it got anything valuable in it, or is it...?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- Oh, no!- Yeah.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Amazingly, it's still not clicked.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44He's talking to a complete stranger, who he let into his house,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46wondering what's happened to his keys.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Time to come clean.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54Well, listen.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Your van is safe.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00And the reason I know your van is safe is because I took it.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Right.- The whole point is to explain to people how quickly
0:17:03 > 0:17:05they could become a victim of crime.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And it's just kind of a demonstration that you
0:17:11 > 0:17:13let someone in and opened yourselves up...
0:17:13 > 0:17:16No, that's good. No, that's really good, yeah.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It goes to show, be careful who you invite into your home.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Matt could have lost his van and its valuable contents.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30We put a tracker inside Matt's van so that he can track it
0:17:30 > 0:17:32on a smartphone to recover it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- So, where are we going? - I think it's pointing down that way.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40It's down there, yeah.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Did you even think about... I'd come into your house?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- Did that cross your mind?- No, it didn't because you came in, said,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47"Oh, can I go to the toilet?" and things like that.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49So it didn't even cross your mind that that could have been...
0:17:49 > 0:17:51No, because you're an innocent-looking young lady
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and you just wanted to go and use the toilet and you nicked my keys.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- You're a bad girl! - THEY LAUGH
0:17:57 > 0:18:00You don't think anything of it, but obviously now you do.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02You think, "Oh, my God, what've I done that for?"
0:18:02 > 0:18:05I feel a bit of an idiot, but fair play, you know.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09How much of a pain would it be to not have your van?
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Oh, it would be a major pain, a big annoyance,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16because we use it all day at work, we're in and out of it all day.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20And thieves can strike no matter where you live.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22You don't realise it can happen to you,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24especially being not in a town location.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Out in the middle of nowhere, you don't think that sort of thing
0:18:27 > 0:18:29will happen to you, but it does, obviously.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32The tracking device takes him on a short walk down the road,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34where he's reunited with his van.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- I believe these are yours, sir. - Yeah.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Good to see you.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44Did you freak out?
0:18:44 > 0:18:47No, I just... I walked about like that, look.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48One hell of a bit of kit in there.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50That's about 1,500 quid in there.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Sue Hill takes a look at our undercover hit.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01If you've got the front, you've got the confidence as a thief,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04you'll get in anywhere.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05Any chance I can use your toilet?
0:19:05 > 0:19:09This man, I wouldn't think in a million years would ever suspect
0:19:09 > 0:19:11that he'd be a victim of crime.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15However, he was quite happy to let that young woman in.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18She went to the toilet, did a recce of his house
0:19:18 > 0:19:20and then managed to take the van keys.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24He had no idea she had any connection.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Thank you, that's great.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Well, this tactic is burglary artifice.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Basically, someone has purported to be there collecting T-shirts.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37And this is a classic example of how trusting the public are.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- That's amazing, thank you. - All right, no worries.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40That's great, thanks so much.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46She's gone there to collect T-shirts,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49so his mind-set is she's a customer. And then to go to the toilet.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53She's young, attractive, she doesn't look like a thief,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56it's not tattooed on her head, and why would she do that?
0:19:56 > 0:20:00It's about trust. We are a very, very trusting society,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and I think sometimes we just become a bit comfortable
0:20:03 > 0:20:06thinking where we live, "It's a lovely neighbourhood,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08"it doesn't happen to people like us."
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Well, actually, don't let it happen to people like you.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Just be aware. And this is a real wake-up call to all of us -
0:20:16 > 0:20:19just be on your guard, don't make yourself a victim of crime,
0:20:19 > 0:20:20you don't have to.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24With his van safely back home, Matt agrees he needs to be
0:20:24 > 0:20:27more vigilant and update his security measures.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31You were walking down the street trying to recover the van.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- I had the tracker, yeah. - That's useful technology.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35It's very useful.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38To be fair, now I'll go back and speak to Chris, my business partner,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41and we'll probably put them in the vehicles because it's...
0:20:41 > 0:20:44It's just the way forward, isn't it, really, to be fair?
0:20:44 > 0:20:45You've done it as easy as that.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48At least if I come out this time I can hit the button on the iPhone
0:20:48 > 0:20:50or whatever and see where it is.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52The worst thing is about it,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55what a Muppet, because we haven't got trackers.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57I think they're the way forward, to be fair.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Three and a half miles from the centre of Oxford
0:21:09 > 0:21:13lies the Farmoor Reservoir, where you'll often find George Barker,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16trustee and instructor of the Oxford Sailing Club,
0:21:16 > 0:21:17messing about in boats.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23The club we've got here is a school's sailing centre
0:21:23 > 0:21:27where we take young people and teach them how to sail.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31We are very fortunate. You know, we have a great stretch of water
0:21:31 > 0:21:35and so a lot of different groups come here.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39With around 14 billion litres of water beneath them,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42the welfare of their young sailors is paramount.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46For each group that goes out, there has to be a dedicated safety boat.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49When we haven't got the powerboats,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51none of the young people can go sailing because
0:21:51 > 0:21:54whilst there's wind in the sailing boat, we can't provide
0:21:54 > 0:21:56the safety cover, so it is absolutely crucial
0:21:56 > 0:22:00that we've got operational safety boats.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Which is difficult to do without an engine, and in the past,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06they've found themselves a target for thieves.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Unfortunately, we have had the engines stolen
0:22:09 > 0:22:10a couple of times before.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13And motorboat engines don't come cheap.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16The larger ones, typically, to replace them new,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18sort of around £6,000.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22The smaller ones are £2,000, £2,500.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26The sailing club members had to raise about £24,000
0:22:26 > 0:22:28to replace all their engines,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31which, in our sort of budget, is very significant.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34These highly priced engines are desirable to thieves
0:22:34 > 0:22:37who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I mean, we've been fortunate. Some of the other sailing clubs
0:22:40 > 0:22:43which have just got the smaller boats have very carefully
0:22:43 > 0:22:46locked their engines to the back of the boat and they've come
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and found that the whole back of the boat has been cut off,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51probably with a chainsaw or whatever,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54which means that the boat is written off as well.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58With such high-value equipment, security at the club is crucial.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03We then thought we needed to take more preventative measures.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06We had some more security cameras put in,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10we also, for the bigger engines on the shore,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14we chain those and padlock those to the ground.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19And also we then had some tracking devices fitted into the engines
0:23:19 > 0:23:23so that we could monitor if they then move at unusual times,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and that obviously is an indication that something is amiss.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Early one morning, the trackers were put to the test
0:23:32 > 0:23:35when thieves broke in and stole an outboard engine.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41The sailing club and the reservoir is locked at night,
0:23:41 > 0:23:46so they clearly cut through or ground through those
0:23:46 > 0:23:52and then they've cut the padlocks and the bolts for the engines.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Marine investigator Simon Lofting
0:23:56 > 0:23:58has seen a trend in this kind of crime.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Outboard motors in relation to maritime property is a huge,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07huge theft problem at the moment across the whole of Europe.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The crimewave is put down to organised gangs from abroad.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Dealing in stolen outboard motors is a very lucrative business.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Two years ago, we hit 96 million euros of loss
0:24:19 > 0:24:21just in outboard engines.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24It mainly consists of Eastern European crime groups.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26They will travel into the country,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29they will steal outboard engines to order.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Another team will come in, take the engines and leave the UK
0:24:32 > 0:24:35within a couple of days, so it's extremely well organised.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37The value of the engines is extremely high.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40So if you're looking at let's say, for instance,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43150 horse power outboard engine, you could be paying anything
0:24:43 > 0:24:46between £20,000-25,000 per engine.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48And when you think an outboard engine is only held on
0:24:48 > 0:24:51by four bolts, essentially, you've got yourself a nice
0:24:51 > 0:24:54lump of money in your hand which is equivalent possibly to, you know,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56four or five car thefts.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Thankfully, when the sailing club's engine was taken,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03the tracker did its job and sent out an alert.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05The tracking company picked up the signal,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and set about tracing the engine straightaway.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12First thing we do is request the unit to go into alarm.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16We send a text message to it to wake it up to turn its radio beacon on,
0:25:16 > 0:25:17so that we can start tracking,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21and start to work out where the unit's moving to, if it's moving.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Or if it's stationary, get an idea of where it's located.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26When they have a position fix,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30they can pass on the details to one of their team of expert trackers.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35We've got a network of finders across the UK and Ireland.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38All of them are ex-SAS or police or Army.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41So, they've got the skill sets required to do the kinds of work
0:25:41 > 0:25:43that's involved with tracking.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48And we make sure that they're able to respond straightaway
0:25:48 > 0:25:50when the unit next talks to us.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55The signal from the outboard engine was moving west away from Oxford.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59We tracked it going down the A40 towards Gloucester.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Once they've got the signal, they can then hone in on that,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06and then get the assistance of the police, if required,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08to make a recovery and any arrests.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11BLEEPING
0:26:11 > 0:26:14We located it to an area in Bishops Cleve,
0:26:14 > 0:26:19sent our finder to the site and he quite quickly picked up a signal,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and identified a white transit van,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24which had been hired from a rental company.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27The signal was coming from the back of the van.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30The finder wasn't alone.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Plainclothes police were already there on stakeout
0:26:32 > 0:26:35waiting for the thieves to show up.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38The police instructed us that they wanted us to pull back a bit,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40and to observe the van to see if anyone appeared
0:26:40 > 0:26:43or to see if anything happened with the van.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47They didn't have to wait long.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50After a period of about 20, 30 minutes,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54a car approached and dropped off two white males who were around
0:26:54 > 0:26:57the area of the van for a period of five, ten minutes
0:26:57 > 0:26:59before they got into the van and drove off.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03The police gave chase along with our finder,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05who was in the police car at the time.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10BRAKES SCREECH
0:27:10 > 0:27:11SIRENS WAIL
0:27:11 > 0:27:14And they ended up in a cul-de-sac.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16There was no escape for the thieves.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19The police had them trapped and made two arrests.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23In the back of the van was a haul of 13 outboard engines.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31When we heard that the engines had been found - absolutely amazed,
0:27:31 > 0:27:36cos it had always been assumed that they immediately disappeared abroad.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42And, yes, a fantastic result to get the engines back and then we were
0:27:42 > 0:27:44operating again within a week.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48We could have been out of action, notwithstanding having to spend a
0:27:48 > 0:27:51lot of money, for more than a month or so.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54From our point of view, it was sort of job done.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57We got them back, so we can carry on operating.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59So, that was a big relief.