0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains some strong language
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Every two minutes a house in Britain is burgled.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12And for years Nottingham has suffered the highest burglary rates in the UK.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14- Every drawer's been pulled out and emptied?- Everything.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18There wouldn't be a day go by without nine, ten breaks in a night.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23She's unable to provide any form of decent description whatsoever, apart from "white man."
0:00:23 > 0:00:28Burglars, they're just cowards. In my opinion, they're scum.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Carlos, hello.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32The city's police are fighting back.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36We've had a challenging time, but we are absolutely determined
0:00:36 > 0:00:38to become one of the safest places in the country.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Now, they're capturing the burglars on camera.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We're in a battle with burglars, using technology as our weapon.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49We catch these burglars red-handed whilst they're committing offences,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52and it's on camera, what can they say to that?
0:00:52 > 0:00:56They're installing hidden mini-cams inside ordinary homes,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58which record the thieves in action.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01They call them capture houses.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04And they're Nottingham's new weapon in the fight against crime.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09You've got Sandhu clearly pointing up to the camera.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11He's not the brightest spark, is he?
0:01:11 > 0:01:15But is this new technology as reliable as the police think?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18That is not me, mate. Look at the face, that's not me. You know it's not.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22I'm being questioned here, right, for summat I know I have not done.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25And should the police be allowed to set traps for burglars?
0:01:25 > 0:01:30- No curtains, windows open, laptop sitting there. That's just making them want to do it.- It's a set-up.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33If it was entrapment we wouldn't be allowed to do it.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36They may think that house is in darkness, that there'll be a laptop
0:01:36 > 0:01:40in there, and we're saying we'll catch you and you'll go to jail.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41There's no doubt.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58It's 10am in Nottingham, and the police are pursuing a burglar.
0:01:58 > 0:02:04RADIO: It's a white male, age 20, wearing black trousers and a grey stripy jumper with a hood.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07It takes you back to your uniform days!
0:02:07 > 0:02:08HE LAUGHS
0:02:08 > 0:02:12The growing problem of burglary across Britain means the police
0:02:12 > 0:02:16are now exploring new and more effective ways of tackling break-ins.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Well, I've stopped you because you look very similar to a person
0:02:20 > 0:02:22who's just tried to get into a property.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26And, increasingly, they're turning to technology.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29DS Craig Luckett favours capture houses.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31I like capture houses a lot.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35They're set up in specific areas which have had issues with burglary,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39the main aim is to snag a burglar in the process of committing the crime
0:02:39 > 0:02:42because we can't go and put cops in every single house
0:02:42 > 0:02:44waiting for a burglar to break in, can we?
0:02:44 > 0:02:47So this is one other tactic that we employ
0:02:47 > 0:02:51to see if we can capture and identify the burglar responsible.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54We want the burglars to know that we use this facility, you know,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and every time they try and break into a house
0:02:57 > 0:03:00I want them thinking, "Is this a capture house I'm getting in?
0:03:00 > 0:03:04"Am I going to get captured on CCTV or what other little nasties are going to be hiding?"
0:03:06 > 0:03:12The burglary team was set up five years ago when burglaries in the city were at a record level.
0:03:12 > 0:03:18Using capture houses they hope to make the people of Nottingham feel secure in their own homes.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21They're the best technique we've got of catching a burglar
0:03:21 > 0:03:23and putting him away again.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27You obtain the evidence quickly, you make your arrest quickly
0:03:27 > 0:03:28and you send them to jail quickly.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Capture house cameras record constantly,
0:03:36 > 0:03:41catching burglars in action day or night.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44DS Dave Bola oversees the technology.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46The thing about capture houses
0:03:46 > 0:03:50is it's a trap we set up to catch the person to get evidence needed to prosecute them,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53because most houses that are burgled,
0:03:53 > 0:03:54we never have any eye-witnesses
0:03:54 > 0:03:57because people are asleep or not at home and they're empty.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Burglars are getting smarter, wearing gloves,
0:04:00 > 0:04:01or their faces are covered.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03But technology's moved on so much
0:04:03 > 0:04:06that we can overcome difficulties that are put to us,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08to try and apprehend them.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15We're in a battle with burglars in Nottingham
0:04:15 > 0:04:19and we're using technology as our weapon against them.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Home office alarm.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Camera cables.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32The capture houses are set up by an undercover team whose identity must remain secret.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34We would never dress in uniform,
0:04:34 > 0:04:38everything we do would be designed to look the opposite of the police.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Today we happen to look like anyone involved in maintenance work.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Other days we could be smartly dressed
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and in a business-type environment,
0:04:48 > 0:04:54so we mix and match the dress-code according to where we're working.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01The location of the capture house also has to remain confidential.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06They can be anywhere, doctors' surgeries, student halls,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11old people's homes and, sometimes, just one room in an ordinary house.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16The capture rooms that we set up in occupied houses are made secure,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19so they wouldn't be able to get into the rest of the house
0:05:19 > 0:05:21through that door from that capture room,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24so the occupants are safe.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31This is designed to look like an old person's flat,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34in which we'll leave some goodies
0:05:34 > 0:05:37that's of value or interest to some bad people.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41The police use fake or faulty goods as the loot.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45We put dummy equipment in there to attract somebody to break into it.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48We use a lot of laptops, a lot of iPods, mobile phones.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52We'll put them on display in houses with open windows or curtains
0:05:52 > 0:05:54for them to think it's worthwhile to break into it,
0:05:54 > 0:05:59which will then set off alarms which notify us, and we'll be there within minutes.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05The alarm is activated at the local police station when someone breaks in.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15The cameras hidden within this room could be hidden in anything,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19in any objects that you see within this room could potentially be used.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25The key weapon in a capture house is the covert camera.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27The final part of the trap
0:06:27 > 0:06:29is a forensic liquid,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33which is concealed beneath anything from a wallet to a laptop,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36and is sprayed when the object is picked up.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39This is the actual SmartWater canister itself.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43We can conceal this in all manner of items within the premises.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47When activation takes place this will be discharged through a pipe,
0:06:47 > 0:06:48through a nozzle,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52and will spray the offender right in the middle of what they're doing.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57When a burglar is sprayed, particles of the liquid
0:06:57 > 0:06:59stick to their skin and clothes
0:06:59 > 0:07:03and it will illuminate under ultraviolet light.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Because the liquid in each canister has its own unique code
0:07:07 > 0:07:10the evidence is indisputable.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11It's a bit like DNA.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15You know, like one in one billion chance of it being duplicated.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17It just doesn't happen.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22There are legal restrictions in what police can and cannot do
0:07:22 > 0:07:25when enticing the burglar to the capture house.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Legally, we can't make somebody do something that they wouldn't have done anyway.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33If we contacted a potential burglar saying,
0:07:33 > 0:07:38"You want to go down this particular street, because it's easy catchings to get into a house."
0:07:38 > 0:07:40That would be totally wrong.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Because we'd be enticing them to come down there.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47We can't make it too obvious from a legal point of view, agent provocateurs,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51the stated cases previously say you can't put something on a window sill
0:07:51 > 0:07:54with a window wide open because it may encourage somebody
0:07:54 > 0:07:57to do something they wouldn't normally do.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02The trap is almost set. Just one more thing to add.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04With a bit of a light-hearted touch thrown in,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08with it being a bee, this is going to be a bit of a sting operation,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11so it's our little, perhaps, joke on this occasion.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It's Tuesday night in Nottingham.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28And when the city's residents go out, the burglars move in.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39But this time the burglar has chosen the wrong house.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44It's a capture room and the alarm is triggered at the police station.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47But the man is in and out in ten seconds.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Dave Bola is notified.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56To me, it's a brilliant result.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Seems strange saying that, it's a brilliant result being burgled.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03I'm happy that it's Nottinghamshire Police that's the victim,
0:09:03 > 0:09:08not another member of the public, and it gives us an opportunity to try and catch that person.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13As Dave arrives, uniformed police are already at the house,
0:09:13 > 0:09:14but the offender has fled.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20The capture room is in a house occupied by five female students
0:09:20 > 0:09:22and the room has been sealed off,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25stopping the burglar getting access to the rest of the house.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33There should have been a laptop on the desk over there,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36which was near the window, which obviously isn't there.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41You can also see that the SmartWater has activated in this area here.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44That's the hard drive
0:09:44 > 0:09:47that records the images from the cameras that are in this room.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50To be honest, I don't know where the cameras are here.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51I didn't fit this room out.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08The students living in the house were unaware of the break-in.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11We were so shocked that, like, they'd been in our house
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and out of our house and we did not hear one thing at all.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Like, I thought I'd hear something, at least.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20It's lucky we did have this police thing because if that happened,
0:10:20 > 0:10:24and we didn't have this, they could have got into the rest of the house.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28If you've got any concerns or fears then just give me a ring,
0:10:28 > 0:10:29I'll come down and see you.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Then when we get somebody arrested
0:10:31 > 0:10:34and if somebody goes to court we'll keep you updated about it.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46The footage clearly shows the burglar stealing the laptop.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48But his face is well covered.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55This could make it difficult for Dave to identify him.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The alarm was activated about 25 past.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Cor, that was quick.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Just watch that again.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13He's obviously quite well covered as well, isn't he?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Burglars are more forensically aware.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Some of them come in the houses masked up, gloved up,
0:11:19 > 0:11:20and people think,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23"How on earth can you identify somebody through a mask?"
0:11:23 > 0:11:24It can be done.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27If they're well-known offenders it can easily be done,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29just through looking at their eyes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32And this picture gives you a better angle of what height
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and what build the person might be, which might help.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I don't know if that looks like Scott Sims to me, to be honest.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I'm still thinking Scott Sims because he is quite tall,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52and he looked 5'10, 6 foot, he did.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Dave has arrested Scott Sims before.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01And with eight burglaries on his record he's now the No.1 suspect.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Dave has to move fast to arrest him,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10before he can remove traces of the SmartWater spray.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Can we come in and see you for a second?
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Can I see this thing on my face?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24No. You know what it's about. Get changed. We're going.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Otherwise I'll drag you out like that. Come on.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Sims, I've dealt with since he was a young kid,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34so, I've got quite a good knowledge of what he looks like,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37he'd been involved in a few incidents prior to that burglary,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40he'd been arrested for two burglaries the previous month,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42so I was aware of what he looked like.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45He was always on the top of my mind as being active at the time.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51So far, Dave's identification is the only evidence linking Sims to the burglary.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Finding SmartWater on his clothes or body will strengthen the police case.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00He would have washed and a majority of SmartWater, no doubt,
0:13:00 > 0:13:01will be off him.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05However, there's no possible way that he'll be able to get rid of everything,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09so, you imagine having a full aerosol dispersal into your face,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11you're going to wash the front bits.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14There's other areas where it's going soak in
0:13:14 > 0:13:16where you're not going to be able to get rid of
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and it's going to stick to your skin.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23The SmartWaters, it can't be seen in normal light,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27the moment a UV torch is put onto it, it glows up a luminous yellow.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31That is a clear indication to me that that contains SmartWater.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35The suspect's clothes and shoes are sent to the lab for analysis,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39and the liquid particles are confirmed to be SmartWater.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41They came from the canister at the capture house,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45proving, beyond doubt, that Sims is the burglar in the footage.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53But not everyone thinks that capture houses are helping to bring down the city's burglary rate.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Scott's family claim he was turning his life around
0:13:58 > 0:14:01when he was caught in the capture house trap.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06They're on about trying to stop crime when they're not. Leaving a window open with a laptop in there.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10No curtains, windows open, laptop sitting there. Come and take me, that's what it's saying.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13How is that stopping crime? That's just making them want to do it
0:14:13 > 0:14:15cos it's that easy.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17You wouldn't go and put a child in front of a paedophile
0:14:17 > 0:14:20and leave them in the room would you, to capture them,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23because he's got history of being a paedophile.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27So, why, if somebody's got a history of burglaries, would you do it?
0:14:27 > 0:14:29You know, where do you draw the line?
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- You're setting 'em up.- You're setting 'em up. It's a set-up.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Some people might be concerned
0:14:35 > 0:14:37that this could be construed as entrapment.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41We're not going to an individual and saying, "We think you should commit a burglary."
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Then, lo and behold, they do it, and we catch them.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45That would be entrapment.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49We're just having a house that could be your house, it could be my house,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52which we just happen to set up some security arrangements in,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55in the same way as that if you put an alarm in your house
0:14:55 > 0:14:59or put a CCTV camera in your house, it's exactly the same.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03If they choose to commit an offence with arrows prompting them,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05then that is a legitimate way forward.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07If it was entrapment we wouldn't be allowed to do it,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10you know, we wouldn't get convictions at court.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14You know, there'd be all uproar with blooming' human rights and all that.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17We don't do anything different than normal householders do.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Normal householders leave the windows unlocked, the windows open,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23leave all the doors open or whatever.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26We merely mirror that, and if somebody breaks into it,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29it's on their own free will and their own free doing
0:15:29 > 0:15:33and they have to suffer the consequences that come with it.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35DRILLING
0:15:35 > 0:15:38As you can see with the amount of equipment that's out,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40we're kitting this out now as we speak.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It's quite a nice, clean and tidy room.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Nottingham's capture houses have been in operation since 2008
0:15:47 > 0:15:51and, so far, they've enabled the police to catch 30 burglars red handed.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55A lamp shade over there. You can put cameras into the curtain.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Dave Bola is proud of their success in protecting the city's residents.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03We had this elderly woman who had Alzheimer's and was reporting
0:16:03 > 0:16:07to her care worker and family that things were going missing, things were getting moved,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11but it was always put down to her illness and just her lack of memory.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Eventually they did report it.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15We put in some covert cameras into her house,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18as a result of that we did actually find that an offender
0:16:18 > 0:16:22had come into the property and had stolen the money.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26That person was arrested and convicted for that.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28We use this technology for a number of things,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31even simple things like anti-social behaviour.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34We're setting one up now whereby there's a member of the community
0:16:34 > 0:16:37just fed up with kids on his street graffiti-ing walls,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41damaging vehicles, cherry knocking on their door and running away,
0:16:41 > 0:16:45cos it's the quality of life for people that we're trying to improve.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51While the capture houses have helped reduce the burglary rate,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55in the last few weeks there has been a new wave of break-ins.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58That Lenton triangle area, we've had a couple on there,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00it was a PS3 and a laptop taken.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03The most current hotspot is in the new Lenton beat.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06But at present we can't say that we've had anybody arrested,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09to say that that hotspot's going to disappear.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14We need to start looking at the new Lenton beat to identify what other properties are down there
0:17:14 > 0:17:17that might be available to set up as capture houses
0:17:17 > 0:17:20to try and identify who the offenders are in those areas.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23If we have numerous burglaries occurring in one area
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and we've got no form of intelligence
0:17:26 > 0:17:29or no other methods of identifying that person responsible,
0:17:29 > 0:17:33we put a capture house in the middle of that hotspot, you know.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Odds are in our favour that the capture house will get broken into,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and then we've got the, you know, we've got the offender.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46The effectiveness of a capture house depends on its location.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49And the team spend a lot of time seeking suitable addresses.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55I think for me, when I'm looking, you've got to try and think like a burglar.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00A burglar wants to break into a house and get out of it as quickly as possible, and I do the same.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05I try and look for houses that have got ground-floor-opening windows
0:18:05 > 0:18:09as a first choice, because they're just so much easier to break into.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16Today, Dave is looking for a front room in an occupied house.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20I'm thinking about whether that one, the ground one. Shall we try that?
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Do you mind if I come in and speak to you? Save us talking on the street. Cheers, pal.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Dave has found his house.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Now he has to persuade the tenants to allow him to use it.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Since Friday we've had about four burglaries on Derby Road
0:18:33 > 0:18:37and Douglas Road, and I'm trying to get something set up to try
0:18:37 > 0:18:39and see if I can catch who that is.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42One of the tactics that we use is using capture houses.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45What we do is basically take over a room and put our equipment in it.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- Right.- Have you got an empty room? - No, we don't.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51But most of us will be moving out in about a month's time.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- Is there no-one moving out before then?- No.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Do you fancy staying with your girlfriend for a week while we used your room?
0:18:57 > 0:19:00- I would do that.- Would you be all right with that?- Absolutely.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Fantastic. You need to check with your girlfriend first, she'll have to put you up for a week.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Oh, yeah. She'll be fine with it.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10As the tenant has agreed to move out with all his belongings,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Dave and his team can now move in.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18We don't put a capture house in an area where we don't think it's going be targeted,
0:19:18 > 0:19:19that would be a fruitless exercise,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23there's no point in wasting all the technology.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Some capture houses don't get broken into for several weeks,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30but there are some capture houses that we've recently set up
0:19:30 > 0:19:32that are broken into within a matter of days.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34The ones that then get broken into
0:19:34 > 0:19:38you see it stopping, you don't see any more burglaries in that area
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and that's how I measure the success of choosing the right location
0:19:41 > 0:19:43in putting a capture house in.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Dave's instincts pay off.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58And only a week after being set up, the capture house is hit.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03DC Chris Taylor has gone to investigate.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04- Hiya.- All right?
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- Have Scenes of Crime been?- They have been.- Point of entry's the window.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Definitely the window, the door was secure when I got here
0:20:13 > 0:20:14and secured as we left it.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16So what was in here to try and capture?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- That laptop.- Have we got any ideas why it's not been taken?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21When the SmartWater is triggered
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- the laptop's been ditched on the bed before he's run out.- OK.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31The forensic liquid is everywhere and under ultraviolet light,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33the burglar's footprints are clearly visible.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36The footwork pattern is like a zigzag pattern,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39you can start to make out the lettering,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41and I think that will say Diesel.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50But it's the hidden cameras that reveal the burglar's identity.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Let me take you back to the beginning of it.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Any minute now, I think.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02I know who that is, that is a previous burglar.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06That's Zahid Ali Khan.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07He's got such a unique face.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I've met him on a number of occasions for burglaries.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15He's been to jail for burglaries in this area.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17We thought he'd changed his ways,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20he'd not been seen in suspicious circumstances in the last few months
0:21:20 > 0:21:24since he's come out of jail, which is why we've not considered him.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26But this is just, well, it's him.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33Khan, a known drug addict, has a criminal career stretching over 25 years
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and, like many burglars, he's a frequent re-offender.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40It's the same burglars. They always repeat their offending.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46So, where 8% of your offenders commit about 80% of your crime on your area,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49you only need to lock up a handful of burglars
0:21:49 > 0:21:53and you're going to have a massive reduction in your burglary figures.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57So, crime will go down once these people are locked up.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00OK, so that's Zahid,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03for those of you that don't know what Zahid looks like.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08It's 6:30 am and Craig's team are preparing to raid Khan's house.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12He's picked up that laptop from that desk,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14the SmartWater's gone off in his face,
0:22:14 > 0:22:15and he's dropped it on the bed.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Fantastic. Absolutely amazing.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Yeah, with the burn. Fantastic.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:22:30 > 0:22:34- Can I just come in and have a look with you? Is that OK? Are you a sister?- Yes.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37If he's in, I'm just going to arrest him.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Khan's not at home.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45But he's left some fresh evidence on the washing line.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48His shoes have obviously been put in the washer.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The tread on the sole matches what Chris has got on his pictures
0:22:51 > 0:22:54of the SmartWater.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56I'm definitely eager to get my hands on him
0:22:56 > 0:23:01and it's a disappointment that you come in early doors, expecting he'll be at the home address and he's not,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04but that's career criminals for you.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06They're always going to be on their toes.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10But it'll come, we've got more friends than he has, and it'll come.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22I think it's Derby Road end.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29Five hours after the police knocked on Khan's door the team have a lead.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Can you just hang on there, two minutes?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Is it a game of, like, cat and mouse?
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Yeah, it is cat and mouse.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Some days you'll catch it, some days you won't.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43You know, we've only got to get lucky once, the offenders
0:23:43 > 0:23:46have got to be lucky every day trying to stay away from us.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Unfortunately for Khan it's not his lucky day.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23Police find SmartWater from the capture house on Khan and his clothes.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25The evidence is overwhelming.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29There's flecks in his hair, behind his ears there.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Now watch this, see, it doesn't come off like dandruff,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35that's cos it's a chemical. OK?
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Is it a good feeling when you know you've got them,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41you know, before the interview?
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Oh, yeah, of course it is. You can go in there with a bit of,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48you know, a bit of a skip in your step type of thing,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51because no matter which way we go with the interview,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54whether it be a "no comment" response, it'll be a charge,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and if he even gives us an account it'll be a charge.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01So it's nice to be in that position.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Do you know what a capture house is?
0:25:04 > 0:25:09I'm going to play you some footage and I want your comments about it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Can you see that picture?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17You kind of look forward to the...
0:25:17 > 0:25:19to the point that you're actually going to play the footage,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21just to see their face and their expressions.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25They're told they've been caught for a burglary, not it's a capture house
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and we've got hidden surveillance cameras inside,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30that way they can clearly see
0:25:30 > 0:25:32how screwed they really are.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37You're under arrest on suspicion of burglary and theft which occurred on the 26th June, 2011.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Zahid, that's my favourite photo of you.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44The other ones are probably not ones to go up on the mantelpiece.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47If you want to stop for a consultation.
0:25:50 > 0:25:51Consultation?
0:25:54 > 0:26:00We've just put the evidence to him about the SmartWater and the CCTV.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Craig, how did he look?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Drained.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I would love to be a fly in their room at the moment.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Talk your way out of that one.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Khan is left with no alternative
0:26:17 > 0:26:21but to admit to being the burglar in the capture house.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29While capture houses are a new weapon in the battle against burglary
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Notts Police have been using CCTV cameras to combat crime
0:26:32 > 0:26:34for nearly 30 years.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Craig and the team are reviewing footage from a break-in
0:26:38 > 0:26:43in a flat above the White Hart Pub in Nottingham City Centre.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47We'll follow him through the pub to see if we can get some good shots to see if we can identify him.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53There we go, we've got him there.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55That is Lee Sandhu on that CCTV
0:26:55 > 0:26:57that's just come into the beer garden.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00And they've come in and...
0:27:00 > 0:27:04you've got Sandhu clearly pointing up to the open window.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07And he's even pointing at the CCTV camera as well.
0:27:11 > 0:27:17He's not the brightest spark, is he? That's definitely 100% Lee Sandhu.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20And I guarantee you, as a burglary's been there
0:27:20 > 0:27:24and Lee Sandhu's also at the same location
0:27:24 > 0:27:29I can almost 100% guarantee that he's the one that's committed the burglary.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36Lee Sandhu and his associate Carl Beard are identified at the burglars.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42The pair are seen on CCTV leaving the beer garden and going up the stairs.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Off-camera, they then enter a flat through an open window,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50and a few minutes later they can be seen leaving with the stolen goods.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54The CCTV is brilliant, isn't it? Especially at this pub.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57I think technology has massively changed
0:27:57 > 0:27:59the way that the police operate.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01I don't think there's one shop nowadays
0:28:01 > 0:28:03that won't have a CCTV system in it.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05You know, we rely upon it so much.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07But the good thing is it's there,
0:28:07 > 0:28:11we know it's there and the bad guys and girls know it's there as well.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Unlike the capture houses this burglary has a victim.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Craig and DC Jason Woods have gone to meet him.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22His name is Davinda Maheel.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27They basically took my PlayStation, my laptop, it's everything,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30obviously I've got to hand in essays on, like, Wednesday,
0:28:30 > 0:28:32so there are deadlines I've got to meet,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35that's why I was in the library all the time.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39But it's just the memories, stuff on the laptop as well,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42you can't really like, get back.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45You said you weren't that keen on sleeping in here, were you?
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Well, I thought I'd be fine, but it's a little bit weird,
0:28:48 > 0:28:53- until you get something happen you don't really notice it.- Yeah. You're a victim of a crime.- Yeah.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56There's no shame in any reaction. You have no control over it,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58you're in your own home,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01- you would think you're allowed to keep your own window open.- Yeah
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Student houses have been hit the hardest
0:29:07 > 0:29:09in Nottingham's recent wave of burglaries,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12with several residents all owning laptops
0:29:12 > 0:29:14they provide rich pickings for the burglars.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19And when the laptops are stolen
0:29:19 > 0:29:21DC Jason Woods has to pick up the pieces.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24Their life is on it,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27not only their personal life as in photos et cetera,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31and the things that mean sentimental value to them, but their work.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36I can't imagine having done nine months study, to have it all
0:29:36 > 0:29:40on there ready to write up my final dissertation, for it to be gone.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41I mean, what do you do?
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I think I would fall to bits.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Lee Sandhu, one of the two suspects in the laptop burglary,
0:29:53 > 0:29:55has already been arrested
0:29:55 > 0:29:58and is about to get a chance to see himself in action.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00You enter the White Hart public house,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03you then go straight through into the beer garden at the back
0:30:03 > 0:30:08where you then point up at an open window which is to a flat.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11You then go upstairs, you're then in there for a few minutes,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14come back down carrying the goods that were stolen,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17then make off with one of the males. All this is caught on camera.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20It's great when you interview somebody,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22they deny it or say, "no comment",
0:30:22 > 0:30:26and then you have the images, they're not expecting it, they don't know what we've got.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31And then you show the images of them going in, and the look on their face and the colour drains,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34you know, and it's... That's just brilliant.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- So did you commit the burglary, Lee? - Yeah.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Yeah? Do you want to tell me about it?
0:30:39 > 0:30:43- I can't remember much. - Right.- I was too high on drugs.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46- What do you think you'd taken that day?- Heroin.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Carl Beard, the other suspect, is still at large.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03The search for him takes DC Jason Woods back to his home territory.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06You know, I sort of grew up with a lot of people from St Ann's.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08We all have our choices.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12I know a number of people that I went to school with
0:31:12 > 0:31:15that have served time in prison. Now I choose to go with the right people.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18But, I suppose, I'm like anybody else,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21if I'd have gone with the other people,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24I might not be sat here now doing what I do.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Police suspect that Beard is at a local drug den.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31Stu, just hold back a second, mate.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33We've just seen a lad we're going to have a look at.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39There he is.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45Carlos, hello!
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- What's the matter? - You're under arrest, mate.- For what?
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Their hunch was right,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52and Beard is caught on the street after smoking crack.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56- You won't be able to take that, that'll have to be destroyed.- OK.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- PHONE RINGS - Who is it?- My girlfriend. - How do you know?
0:32:00 > 0:32:06It says my wife on it. Hello? They've just grabbed me now.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08- Burglary.- Carl?- Yeah? - I'm going to turn...
0:32:08 > 0:32:13- All right, I've got to go anyway. - Turn your phone off, OK?- Yeah.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Can you remember what you were doing on the night of the 18th?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Not really. We went to the pub for a drink.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27So who did you go in the pub with?
0:32:27 > 0:32:29- A friend.- Right.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32- I just went in.- Yeah.- Had a drink, sat in the back,
0:32:32 > 0:32:33spoke to a couple of people,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35smoked a couple of fags, that's it.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39There's obviously a reason you're here, you're not just plucked out.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41There was a burglary at that address.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45I'm just going to show you some CCTV from the night in question.
0:32:45 > 0:32:46- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:32:48 > 0:32:54So that shows you coming in the pub together, the lad behind you. Now I know that male to be Lee Sandhu.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56- OK.- I know that's who it is.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58See on the gate there, there's a sign.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00- What does it say? - That says "Private. No Entry".
0:33:00 > 0:33:01I didn't see that.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05Lee then points at the CCTV camera, so he knows there's a camera there.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06What a dickhead.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10You're just doing some robot dancing to yourself in the corner.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Lee now comes down, now carrying a laptop.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17You've now taken your jacket off and you've got it covering the bag,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19and you both run off.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24- Now you've watched the CCTV is there anything you want to say to me that's different?- No, I don't.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- The camera never lies.- Obviously. - Yeah?- Yeah.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30What can I say? Bang to rights, me.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Yeah, you are, aren't you?
0:33:32 > 0:33:34Mm. I've been caught on camera.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Both Sandhu and Beard have admitted their guilt
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and they will be sentenced by the courts.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56The increasing use of camera footage by Nottingham's Police Force
0:33:56 > 0:33:59is making life difficult for the city's burglars.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03And capture house technology is particularly unpopular.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Stiggy has been a prolific burglar and, unsurprisingly,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10is no fan of capture houses.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13They're setting people up to get caught
0:34:13 > 0:34:17when they can't catch 'em really, they have to make a burglary for 'em
0:34:17 > 0:34:20to catch 'em doing it, cos they can't get 'em doing it themselves.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23A known a burglar who needs money for drugs
0:34:23 > 0:34:27and there's a burglary there in his face, no-one about,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31and it's so easy for them to do, cos they make it that easy for 'em,
0:34:31 > 0:34:34the laptop will be there, they'd have phones on the side,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37they'll have money, probably, there, they're going to do it.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41If they're clever they might try and stake it out for a little bit,
0:34:41 > 0:34:45watch it, but they'll see it's been there so long and think "I'm going to do it."
0:34:45 > 0:34:50They're not clever enough, cos I know someone who's been and got themselves done for it
0:34:50 > 0:34:54and he's not a very clever person, I certainly wouldn't have done it.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59It's been two years since Stiggy's seen the inside of a prison.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01And he now says he's gone straight.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05I don't do burglaries no more. I've sorted my life out.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I've got a nice girlfriend,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11we live nicely and we don't need to do things like that.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13I still get to wear nice clothes
0:35:13 > 0:35:18and I don't need to rob to satisfy my needs no more.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Despite having a dozen or so capture houses in operation
0:35:27 > 0:35:30there have been no capture house burglaries for over a month.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34But tonight, that's about to change.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51The spray's gone up here.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56The next morning, Dave Bola visits the burgled capture house.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58- Shall we have a quick look at this? - Yeah.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03So you can just see him actually grabbing hold of the laptop.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07Got quite a good view of him.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11And then he bobs down again there, there was a bag with some paperwork,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14like a laptop carry case, he bends down and picks that up,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17and then just looks back up towards where the spray is.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19- He knows it's gone. - It would suggest he knows,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22- he's stopped there and had another look.- Yeah.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24And then he's away.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29The footage is clear.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32And when the laptop is lifted the SmartWater is activated,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35but he is in and out in only ten seconds.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42The SmartWater is everywhere, so the police are hopeful
0:36:42 > 0:36:46the burglar may have traces of it on his skin and clothes.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49But it's not immediately obvious to Dave who the burglar is.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55I don't recognise him.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59There's no names at the top of my head
0:36:59 > 0:37:01that I'm thinking who it could be right now.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03We'll take it back to a larger monitor.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06And then there's three staff on from the burglary team on today
0:37:06 > 0:37:08and we'll get them to view it as well.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Dave doesn't know who it is.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16But it is possible another officer may be able to identify the burglar.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18We know a picture in our area,
0:37:18 > 0:37:20but a lot of burglars would travel sometimes,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24because when they get to be so well known in their own areas
0:37:24 > 0:37:31that they feel they can't walk half a mile up the street without getting stop-checked by a police officer
0:37:31 > 0:37:36they tend to move around then, so then they'll move to the next division or the next area.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38And that's when it becomes difficult for us.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48The next step is uploading the footage from that capture house
0:37:48 > 0:37:51directly onto our systems.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54As a result of that all the police officers can view these images
0:37:54 > 0:37:57from their BlackBerry phones that everybody has.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00At the beginning of every shift they'll view this footage
0:38:00 > 0:38:03to try and see if anyone can identify who the burglar is as well.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07The next day, a variety of names have been suggested by officers
0:38:07 > 0:38:10around the Force, but one person is identified twice.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13We had a statement of identification from one of the officers
0:38:13 > 0:38:19who works down at Central, they've identified him as Craig Foster.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23Craig Foster is well known to the police,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26but most of his offences are for shoplifting.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31The capture house break, mate. We've had Foster's name put forward.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34What do you think?
0:38:34 > 0:38:38I feel comfortable that it is Foster,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40so do you want to go and look for Craig Foster?
0:38:40 > 0:38:43All right, kiddo. Cheers, mate. Ta-rah.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45They're going to be looking for him.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48# Happy days Happy days. #
0:38:49 > 0:38:51A fucking burglary.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- Is Craig in? - No, he doesn't live here. Never has.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Woah, woah. Don't shout at me.
0:39:00 > 0:39:01KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:39:01 > 0:39:03We just need to speak to Craig.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- You've not seen Craig for four months?- No.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12We have officers tasked to go and find our possible suspect for the capture house.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15So they've been on the hunt all day,
0:39:15 > 0:39:21and at 3:15 this afternoon they've nicked him.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Craig Foster is booked into the custody suite
0:39:23 > 0:39:25and potential evidence is seized.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31I mean predominantly it's going to be SmartWater should be on the sole.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36When examined, Foster's trainers reveals suspicious luminous marks.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38They could be SmartWater.
0:39:38 > 0:39:44That keeps me happy and satisfied that the guy that's been nicked is the one.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46Craig, come and take a seat.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49What we're going to be doing here now is examining you for SmartWater.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Once they've done that we'll take you back downstairs.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55I don't know nothing about it, I just want to get it dealt with.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57OK.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Foster is scanned.
0:39:59 > 0:40:05If he is the man in the capture house footage he's likely to have SmartWater particles on him.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10OK. All done at this stage.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15The CSI has found something of interest to them, which is a fluorescent substance.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18What is he going to say in interview? I don't know.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23From his reaction so far I don't think he anticipates there's any video footage in the room.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24And to be honest with you,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I don't even think he realises what SmartWater is.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30I'm being questioned here for summat I know I have not done.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- You're saying you've never been in 39 Douglas Road?- No, never.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- Craig, we've got CCTV footage of you doing the burglary.- You've got CCTV?
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Well, let's see the footage then, cos I know I have not been in that premises.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43You've been identified from that CCTV footage.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Well, let's see the CCTV footage then, yeah?
0:40:46 > 0:40:47Let's have a look.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50What, that's me? Is it fuck.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53That is not me, mate. Look, look at the face.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57Look, stop it there. That is not me, I'm telling you now, that is not me.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I admit, yeah, that person probably does look a little bit like me,
0:41:00 > 0:41:02but that ain't me, I'm telling you.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Look! Look at the face, mate, that's not me.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07You know it's not. I'm not a burglar, officer.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09I do not do burglaries, yeah? Right?
0:41:09 > 0:41:10If any crime that I commit,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13I probably do a bit of shoplifting now and again, petty crime.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16I don't burgle houses, me.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20The interview with Foster, I think, went rather well.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23He showed blatant denial, which we knew was going to happen.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26We anticipated that in the interview anyway.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27"I accept it looks like me."
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Well, that's because, as far as I'm concerned, it is him.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34So, I'm still happy that we've got the right man.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38The only doubt that I will have is when SmartWater turn round and tell me it's not SmartWater,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41that it's some other lubricating product!
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Identifying the burglar from capture house footage
0:41:46 > 0:41:50relies on police intelligence and local knowledge.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Is this Craig Foster?
0:41:52 > 0:41:56They've just shown me some CCTV of a lad climbing through a window,
0:41:56 > 0:42:00and it looks a bit like me, and they're saying the coppers have identified me.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Exactly, Mum. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah, right.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06You know as well as I do, I don't do that shit, do you know what I mean?
0:42:06 > 0:42:11Foster is adamant it's not him and when the results come back from the lab,
0:42:11 > 0:42:13the police are left with a dilemma.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Whatever the luminous marks were on Foster and his shoes,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20they're not SmartWater.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21We got hold of his footwear,
0:42:21 > 0:42:24when they were tested in the lab they come back negative.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28The swabs that we took from inside the ear, again,
0:42:28 > 0:42:32they've come back negative for any particles of SmartWater.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36The good thing is we've got two identification statements from two police officers.
0:42:36 > 0:42:41We've gone to the CPS with the best evidence that we've got and they've been happy to charge.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44- Craig, you've been charged. OK? - I've been charged?- Yeah.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48You know for a fact I ain't on this burglary. You know for a fact, seriously.
0:42:48 > 0:42:49You know for a fact, mate.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53That's CCTV of someone, just, what has just got a resemblance of me.
0:43:04 > 0:43:05Eight weeks later...
0:43:07 > 0:43:09..Foster is cleared of all charges
0:43:09 > 0:43:11relating to the capture house burglary.
0:43:14 > 0:43:15It's an unknown for us.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19It's the first time ever that we've arrested and prosecuted somebody
0:43:19 > 0:43:23for breaking into a capture house and they've not been convicted.
0:43:23 > 0:43:28It relies on human input to try and identify the offender that's on that footage,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30and you can't always be 100% correct,
0:43:30 > 0:43:33you've always got that margin of human error.
0:43:33 > 0:43:39Foster has been found not guilty at court, it has been an identity that's been wrong,
0:43:39 > 0:43:42but, ultimately, the real offender might still be out there.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45I don't think anything can ever be foolproof,
0:43:45 > 0:43:48but what I'm happy to say is that 99.9% of the time
0:43:48 > 0:43:51these capture houses provide us with the evidence that we need
0:43:51 > 0:43:55to prosecute the correct burglar that breaks into that room.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08All over the country, incidents of burglary are rising.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11There has been a 14% increase from last year.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14But in Nottingham the figures are down.
0:44:17 > 0:44:22Can you just tell us where everything was and then I'll look at that footage. Is that all right?
0:44:22 > 0:44:26Controversy surrounds the capture house technique.
0:44:26 > 0:44:27But in Nottingham,
0:44:27 > 0:44:31it's become a key tactic in bringing down the burglary rates.
0:44:34 > 0:44:35With the CCTV
0:44:35 > 0:44:40there's always going to be a cop somewhere that recognises them.
0:44:40 > 0:44:44They may think that that house is in darkness, that they've got the opportunity,
0:44:44 > 0:44:48that there'll be a laptop in there, and we're saying take your chances
0:44:48 > 0:44:50cos we'll catch you and you'll go to jail.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52There's no doubt.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57They'll always leave a trace, somehow.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01Especially where there's a capture house!
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:45:50 > 0:45:53E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk