0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16police and other agencies are using new technology and tactics
0:00:16 > 0:00:18where the bad guys are actually getting caught in the act.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22I can see the man actually commit the robbery. Lovely. Thank you very much.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Local councils, shops, and businesses
0:00:24 > 0:00:26are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Why should we feel frightened for the rest of our lives?
0:00:29 > 0:00:32And the general public too can help unsuspecting crooks
0:00:32 > 0:00:33get their comeuppance.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35No way are you getting away.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38We did it for everyone else as well that she might be stealing from.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39We will name and shame you.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43So, anyone who's up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46They might just get caught red-handed.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Today, a vulnerable great-grandmother -
0:00:56 > 0:00:59her life in a care home should be happy and settled,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02but her family sense something's badly wrong.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04So the only way round it was to get some evidence
0:01:04 > 0:01:07and that's why we thought we'd put a camera in.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10The camera's hidden in a clock and as time passes,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13it records the shocking truth of what's really happening.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15SHOUTING
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Also today, an argument in the street
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and suddenly a knife is pulled...
0:01:26 > 0:01:29..a city centre drama that shows how police
0:01:29 > 0:01:33and the council's CCTV can successfully join forces.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37The police love CCTV footage because the camera doesn't lie.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42And these settees were a sitting target for thieves
0:01:42 > 0:01:46until a sharp-eyed salesman races to round up the sofa rustlers.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02These pictures are being recorded by a hidden camera
0:02:02 > 0:02:04in one of the rooms at a care home.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09It's night-time and just out of view one of the residents,
0:02:09 > 0:02:1389-year-old Ivy Robinson, is fast asleep in her chair.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Now, be prepared.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17What happens next here is distressing to watch.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23The two care staff are deep in conversation and without any
0:02:23 > 0:02:27attempt to wake Ivy first, they get hold of her to move her into bed.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Ivy's family felt compelled to install this camera
0:02:32 > 0:02:36because they were worried about the level of care she was getting.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40What they didn't expect to see was the level of abuse.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43The carers put Ivy on the bed in a rough and ready manner.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45THUD! Oh-h!
0:02:47 > 0:02:48SHOUTING
0:02:56 > 0:02:59This video evidence will put these so-called carers
0:02:59 > 0:03:01in the care of the police.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13These are some family photographs of Ivy from the years before
0:03:13 > 0:03:15she needed to live in a care home.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The photos are treasured by her daughter Angela
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and son-in-law Simon.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25In her younger time, she was the life and soul of everything.
0:03:25 > 0:03:26She'd have a laugh.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30She was funny. She liked to go out and have a drink, very sociable.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Always there, she do anything for anybody.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Good character and a lot of people, when she lived in Knottingley,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38a lot of people knew Mum.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41When Ivy's husband, George, passed away,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44she moved in with Angela and Simon for a while,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48before settling in to live in her own home nearby.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50We got a room ready for her and she moved in there and she was
0:03:50 > 0:03:55there for two, three years, before things weren't quite right.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Ivy starts to become restless and forgetful.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01We got a rapid response team involved,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04who deal with mental illness and they came in
0:04:04 > 0:04:08and did an assessment on Mum and said, "She's got vascular dementia."
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Vascular dementia is a disease of the brain that gradually gets
0:04:13 > 0:04:14worse over time.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18It can lead to a change in behaviour and cause seizures.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20We said, "Well, can she come home with us?"
0:04:20 > 0:04:22because we were always close to Mum -
0:04:22 > 0:04:25we looked after her for a long, long time after George passed away.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31But the medics advise Angela that Ivy needs round-the-clock care.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34So we had to look round for various different homes
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- and we went to quite a few. - We found this care home.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41She loved it, she got friends with a few people in there.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45She'd get dressed up every day, she'd have jewellery on, lipstick on.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50For the first four, five, six years, she was like Mum was,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52the life and soul of it still.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56But eventually Ivy's health starts to deteriorate at a quicker
0:04:56 > 0:04:59rate and her care needs increase.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Angela and Simon, who visit almost daily, begin to notice some changes.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04I'd be saying to them,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08"Mum's not quite dressed right," or she'd have things on back to front
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and I'd say to them, "Well, why didn't somebody put it right?"
0:05:12 > 0:05:13you know, "She likes to look nice, does Mum."
0:05:13 > 0:05:15We started to spend more time there,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19so Angela would go dinner times and started to go tea times
0:05:19 > 0:05:23after a while as well to make sure Mum got her dinner and her tea.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26One dinner time, we were just sat in that feeding room
0:05:26 > 0:05:30and she just had this fit. I've never seen her have one as bad.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32We asked the question, "Is she getting her medication
0:05:32 > 0:05:35"for fitting, the phenytoin?" they checked the sheets and said,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37"Oh, yes, it's been administered, no problems there.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39"We don't understand why it was."
0:05:39 > 0:05:43For a few days after, she had a few more fits.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46And it were like...alarm bells.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50As well as suspecting that Ivy isn't getting her medication properly,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54there are some more sinister signs that things aren't right.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58We're noticing that buttons were off her pyjamas and ripped.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02It was basically put down to the laundry equipment was quite old
0:06:02 > 0:06:03and things get stuck.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Bruises on both her hands there, we questioned this.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Possibly the medication she's on,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11the aspirin can cause bruising easily.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14And it were getting where as soon as I'd stand up,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16she'd say, "Don't go."
0:06:16 > 0:06:18I said, "It's all right, Mum, you know, I go home now
0:06:18 > 0:06:20"and I'll be back tomorrow," you know.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22"No, don't go, don't leave me."
0:06:22 > 0:06:23I got upset and I said to Simon,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26"My mum's trying to tell us something here."
0:06:26 > 0:06:28We needed to know what was going on when we weren't there.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31So the only way round it was to get, if there was anything,
0:06:31 > 0:06:32to get some evidence.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34And that's why we thought, "Put a camera in."
0:06:34 > 0:06:37They look on the internet to see what's available
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and decide to buy a hidden camera that's disguised as a clock.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44So we got this camera delivered, we actually bought another clock
0:06:44 > 0:06:46to swap it with, so people didn't notice it wasn't there.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48We put it on on Friday night for the first time.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51They record for five nights in a row.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55What they discover is shocking and far from the tender care that
0:06:55 > 0:06:59an elderly woman with dementia requires and deserves.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Ivy is fast asleep in her chair.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05A carer comes in
0:07:05 > 0:07:07to administer some medication.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10It's a large pill and a syringe full of liquid.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Now, I don't know about you,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15but if I was about to receive two doses of medicine, I'd like
0:07:15 > 0:07:19to be woken up properly first, so I'd know what was going on.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Ivy!
0:07:21 > 0:07:26The pill is simply dropped into her open mouth, and next the liquid.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Naturally, Ivy puts up some resistance in her sleep.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The carer roughly wipes away the spillage with a flannel
0:07:33 > 0:07:34and then tries again.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Ivy, you've got to take your medicine.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Get away, I don't care what you're doing.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43You nasty old cow.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Basically, she ended up abusing Mum and throwing it down the sink.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It were just shock, in fact, I felt sick. I stood up,
0:07:52 > 0:07:58I screamed out, and thinking, "Oh, my God, what's been happening to Mum?"
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Carers have to take a person's illness into account
0:08:01 > 0:08:03when dealing with them.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Someone with dementia needs MORE care and patience, not less.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10This next section is perhaps the most shocking of the footage that
0:08:10 > 0:08:17Simon and Angela recorded, when this uncaring pair move Ivy into bed.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Talking completely about something else, not even interacting with Mum.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22They don't talk to her, explain what they're doing,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24which they're supposed to, you know -
0:08:24 > 0:08:26"Ivy, this is what we're going to do."
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Without breaking from their own conversation,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30they lift Ivy up from the chair.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33I just come down with Reg...
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I just brought Reg down in the wheelchair.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Basically, they drag her across the floor with their hands
0:08:41 > 0:08:43under her arms.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50We can't see what happens next as they manhandle Ivy onto the bed,
0:08:50 > 0:08:51but the sounds tell it all.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57THUD! Oh-h!
0:08:57 > 0:08:59SHOUTING
0:09:13 > 0:09:17The carer's aggressive shouting and Ivy's obviously hurt.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25They hurt my mum. I'm just glad we put that camera in, because
0:09:25 > 0:09:28it had to stop and I just don't know how long it were...
0:09:28 > 0:09:30I think that was just the biggest thing as well,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32when you're watching it, you're thinking, "Oh, my God,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35"how long is this been going on for?"
0:09:35 > 0:09:37And then I felt like I'd let her down.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39That's the thing.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Angela and Simon show their evidence
0:09:41 > 0:09:44to managers at the care home, who take immediate action.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47The police are called and two carers are arrested.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50A safeguarding committee is formed to try
0:09:50 > 0:09:54and make sure there is no more abuse.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Ivy eventually moves to a new care home,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00one that has more emphasis on round-the-clock nursing.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Mum basically came out of her shell
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- when she went into the new care home.- The carers just...
0:10:07 > 0:10:12- They just loved her.- She went back years to how Mum used to be.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Ivy were back, you know.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16We got some good memories of Mum in the new care home.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20The two people who had treated Ivy
0:10:20 > 0:10:24so badly at the previous home have their court appearance.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30Both plead guilty to wilful neglect and ill-treatment of Ivy Robinson.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32One is sentenced to four months in prison
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and the other is given a community order.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38The camera evidence has made sure they will never
0:10:38 > 0:10:41work in the care profession again.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44There needs to be more care
0:10:44 > 0:10:50and protection put into homes to look out for things like this.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54I believe that CCTV should be in all care homes.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58It is something that will protect vulnerable people
0:10:58 > 0:11:00and it will improve the levels of care.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05And now a government body, the Care Quality Commission,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07is considering the use of CCTV in care homes
0:11:07 > 0:11:09as a safeguard against abuse.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Ivy went on to have 13 happy months in her new home.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Simon and Angela were with her when she passed away.
0:11:17 > 0:11:23You could see in her face, there was just so much calmness there.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28There was a sense of, "I'm OK." Do you know what I mean?
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Coming up - two masked men's attempt to rob a petrol station takes
0:11:40 > 0:11:44a dive. They'd reckoned without the cashier who fights them off.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48And they thought they'd be sitting pretty on stolen sofas
0:11:48 > 0:11:51but the shop staff had got them covered.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58They say the night has a thousand eyes.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Well, I say so does the daytime, because a combination of people on
0:12:01 > 0:12:06our streets and CCTV cameras means crimes are getting easier to spot.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15It's the evening rush hour in York on a pleasant summer's day.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Suddenly, something not so pleasant.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24An argument between two men boils over into the middle of the road
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and looks like it could turn nasty.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30But a council camera operator is watching it happen
0:12:30 > 0:12:33and immediately alerts the police.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Until they arrive, he's their eyes on the scene.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41And when the fight escalates and one of the men pulls out a knife,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45the camera operator's evidence will turn out to be vital.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57The historic walled city of York is one of Britain's oldest.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03But in this ancient place,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05the authorities are using hi tech solutions
0:13:05 > 0:13:07to deal with 21st-century problems.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- Good afternoon. Cameras. All right. - Have you got a direction of travel?
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Christian Wood helps run this camera control room,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16which was set up by the city council.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20The cameras were initially installed for monitoring the city centre car parks.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It expanded into traffic management and,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25beyond that, they were useful for crime and disorder.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Message received. I'm monitoring now.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32There are now 150 cameras in and around the city centre.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35They feed images back to the control room,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38where operators monitor them round the clock.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41I've been looking around all over but still no sign of him. Over.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44And these camera operators have a particularly
0:13:44 > 0:13:46close working relationship with the police.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49The operators in the CCTV room have access to the police
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Airwaves radio, which gives them direct contact with
0:13:52 > 0:13:55the police officers on the ground and in the force control room.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- 583 to camera room, receiving. - Camera room, receiving. Go ahead.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Just to let you know I'm out patrolling the city centre.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05If you see anything suspicious, let me know straightaway, please.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Sergeant Martin Metcalfe
0:14:07 > 0:14:09often works hand-in-hand with the camera operators
0:14:09 > 0:14:12to help keep the streets safe for the public.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Let me know and I'll come and sort them out.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Yeah, received on that. Thank you.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20To give a simple example of how they can work together,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22it's only a small misdemeanour by a young cyclist,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24who doesn't dismount when he should,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28but it shows how quickly police and council can combine resources.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30- Are you going to get off your bike, or what?- Uh?
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Are you going to get off your bike?
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Good. Good.- What?- It's a £50 fine.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- Why is it?- £60 it is, now. - I haven't done owt.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You've gone past a sign saying "pedestrian zone".
0:14:40 > 0:14:42- I didn't know.- I believe you.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43Listen, stay off your bike,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- OK?- I'm off my bike. - Stay of then, all right?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47What I'll do now is shout the cameras up
0:14:47 > 0:14:49and if he gets back on his bike, I'll give him a ticket.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Martin generally lets most people off with a warning.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55But he has a feeling that this youth won't stick to his word
0:14:55 > 0:14:59and has asked the camera control room to keep an eye on him.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Cameras to 583.- 'Go ahead.'
0:15:02 > 0:15:04'The gentleman you asked about is currently coming up'
0:15:04 > 0:15:08behind you riding his push-bike.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Sure enough. Busted!
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Martin gives the youth a caution.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Not a major crime but the systems are ready
0:15:16 > 0:15:20and waiting for more serious incidents, if and when they happen.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21The police love CCTV footage
0:15:21 > 0:15:24because it's an unbiased account of what happened.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28People can be mistaken or lie, but the camera doesn't lie.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32The camera's ability to show the whole truth and nothing
0:15:32 > 0:15:36but the truth will prove useful with this next more threatening incident.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38These two men know each other
0:15:38 > 0:15:42but have fallen out big-time over an unknown issue.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Their argument is now raging in the street.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50Police are alerted, and Sergeant Mike Hewitt is heading to the scene.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51As I'm on my way I'm getting live updates
0:15:51 > 0:15:54from the council CCTV operator, which is brilliant.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57The updates get increasingly alarming.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00At one point, the man in the black top draws a rolling pin
0:16:00 > 0:16:02out of his bag.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05But fortunately thinks better of it.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Unfortunately, the more aggressive man in the white vest then
0:16:09 > 0:16:13goes to the woman he's with and wrestles something out of her bag.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14It's a Stanley knife.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18He charges after the other man once more.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24And it's not just the cameras witnessing this violent exchange.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Innocent bystanders get involved too.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29One man unsuccessfully tries to calm them down.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33On the corner, this cyclist hears the men
0:16:33 > 0:16:35shouting as they get nearer to him.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38I actually had my headphones in at the time
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and I could hear the screams over my headphones.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43That's when they came round the corner
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and that's when I witnessed what happened.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49What happens is that the man in the white vest starts wildly
0:16:49 > 0:16:52slashing the knife at the other man.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54The thing that was going through my head was,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57"I hope that this guy doesn't actually get cut
0:16:57 > 0:17:01"because if he does, I'm going to have to be the one that steps up."
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Thankfully, the younger man stays out of reach.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Meanwhile, as the police approach, Sgt Hewitt gets another update
0:17:09 > 0:17:13about the knife and the direction the men are taking.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15One of them swung a knife at the other one,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20which obviously gets my heart racing a bit but, yeah, it's really
0:17:20 > 0:17:23good to get that kind of update so I know exactly where they are.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26As the two men become aware that the police are arriving,
0:17:26 > 0:17:27they decide to cool it.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Now this is where the camera operator
0:17:29 > 0:17:33and any other eyewitness can prove to be invaluable.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Because, as Sgt Mark Hewitt is pulling up in his police van,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40the man in the white vest tries to get rid of the knife.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42He gives it to the woman he's with.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Who then ditches it through a grating at the side a building.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Both men then claim their innocence and have no knowledge of a knife.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56But the truth is relayed to Sgt Hewitt via the camera operator
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and by the cyclist, Sebastian.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I felt that I had an obligation to sort of stay
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and tell them what happened.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05And I saw where the lady put the knife.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Mike Hewitt arrests the men.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Put him in the back of a van and get him to the police station
0:18:10 > 0:18:13where we could ask him further questions about what's gone on.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Now to find the knife.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Mike's fellow officer gets the task of retrieving
0:18:17 > 0:18:19it from the old building.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21So my colleague gets in.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23He had to crawl through the crypt, I believe,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and came out covered in cobwebs, and dust and all sorts.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Um, but, we did locate the knife in the room.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31That's a lovely view(!)
0:18:31 > 0:18:33I move away from the grate
0:18:33 > 0:18:35because my colleague has recovered the knife.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Bingo.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40And all this video footage the camera operator's been recording
0:18:40 > 0:18:44has one more use - as evidence in court.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50The man in the white vest is convicted of threatening a person in
0:18:50 > 0:18:55a public place with a knife and is sentenced to eight months in jail.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00It was a really good result
0:19:00 > 0:19:04and I think it shows that CCTV is fantastic for initially identifying
0:19:04 > 0:19:07an offence has occurred and identifying the offenders.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10And then, in conjunction with the witness,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12we can achieve successful prosecutions.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24The cyclist, Sebastian, proved to be a useful witness for the police.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27What's the best way to behave if we are ever unfortunate
0:19:27 > 0:19:30enough to find ourselves in a similar position?
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's really difficult to be a witness to crime, and we understand that.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37When I was training in police training college,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41we all watched a DVD and we all remembered something different.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42Things happen so quickly.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45What you should do is get yourself away to a place of safety
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and then use anything at your disposal, such as a note book,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53to record what you've just witnessed or, as we all have,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56we have mobile phones which have recording devices - you can
0:19:56 > 0:19:59use those to record the information that we, as police,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02need to understand what's happened and catch those responsible.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06What height was the person? What colour of hair did they have?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09What were they wearing? What kind of jacket did they have on?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Did you notice their shoes? Did you notice their trousers?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15So it's to try and remember - "I'm a witness
0:20:15 > 0:20:18"and I'm going to be asked a question about this."
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Now to someone who makes a decision to get involved DURING a crime,
0:20:22 > 0:20:26and she doesn't hesitate to get to grips with a robber.
0:20:32 > 0:20:364.55pm at a petrol station in Clifton, Bedfordshire.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38It has been a normal day
0:20:38 > 0:20:40but that's about to change.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43A masked man bursts in
0:20:43 > 0:20:45and heads straight for the till.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48But the shop attendant tries to intercept him.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52The man's accomplice, another masked robber, enters.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54They are both unarmed,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57but the two men obviously figure they'll easily be able to
0:20:57 > 0:21:01intimidate and overpower a lone 27-year-old woman.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03They're wrong.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07She gives the first robber a good shove
0:21:07 > 0:21:11then quickly grabs all the notes out of the till to frustrate him,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13then actually pulls his hair.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16He desperately lunges at her over the counter
0:21:16 > 0:21:18to try and get the money.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Seeing it's all getting a bit out of hand,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26his accomplice scarpers, clutching six bottles of spirits.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29But still the cashier won't give up the cash.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32She tussles with the robber on the floor.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Having got some cash, he decides that this is all more difficult
0:21:35 > 0:21:37than he planned.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40He dives back over the counter to escape from her.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42But SHE'S not finished with HIM.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44She chases him outside.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Looking back on it later,
0:21:49 > 0:21:53the woman said she hadn't had a chance to put money in the safe.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55She knew there was a lot of cash in the till
0:21:55 > 0:21:58that she didn't want them to steal.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02As well as the stolen booze, the two men got away on the day with £500.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05But police tracked them down.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They had already tried to rob another store earlier in the day.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12They were sent down for two and three years apiece.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Although they believe their employee should have
0:22:15 > 0:22:18considered her own safety first,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22her bosses praised her remarkable dedication and courage.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29CCTV exposes crimes and criminals,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33but it also shows us the sorts of people that are willing to risk
0:22:33 > 0:22:36their own safety to protect their employers' businesses,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39like that cashier we've just seen, and Justin Hallett.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42When thieves tried to steal a sofa from his employer,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45he wasn't caught sitting down on the job.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51We're in Northampton.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- Hello there.- Hello.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Saturdays are busy for staff at this furniture store.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59They like to see as many sofas as possible
0:22:59 > 0:23:02flying out the door and into customers' houses.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Everything on this side you can have delivered tomorrow.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09This is two weeks for delivery. OK?
0:23:09 > 0:23:13But at lunchtime one Saturday, the sales manager happens
0:23:13 > 0:23:15to glance at a CCTV monitor,
0:23:15 > 0:23:19and he sees a sofa flying out the door that isn't meant to be.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23It was a case of, "Right, they're stealing one of our sofas."
0:23:23 > 0:23:25And like a stunt from a movie,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29the sales manager Justin sails over his desk
0:23:29 > 0:23:31in a desperate bid to stop them.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37But will he get there in time?
0:23:43 > 0:23:46This large furniture shop is owned by Mark Kypta.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Up until now, they've had no trouble here.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52In the 13 years of the Sofa King going,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56we've never had anyone try to steal anything, let alone sofas.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Mark has many loyal staff,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01including Justin Hallett who, before he came here,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05worked in security at a different shop.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Shoplifting and theft was a big part of my job.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Why should somebody take something that doesn't belong to them
0:24:12 > 0:24:13that they haven't paid for?
0:24:13 > 0:24:16No, it really does annoy, so it makes me angry.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19There are a number of CCTV cameras in and around the store
0:24:19 > 0:24:22which are mainly used to ensure customers get
0:24:22 > 0:24:23the right sofas they've ordered.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27To save any confusion, we check the CCTV to make sure
0:24:27 > 0:24:30we always deliver the right sofas, so it wasn't ever to catch thieves.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34It was to help with the business and the business model as such.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36But for the first time, on that busy Saturday,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38there's trouble in store.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41A suspicious van appears, and those cameras
0:24:41 > 0:24:44are about to do the job they're really made for.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46I was serving a customer who was sat just there,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49filling out their paperwork. I heard the van turn up
0:24:49 > 0:24:53and glanced up at the CCTV and noticed that
0:24:53 > 0:24:55there was a couple of guys out there.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Finished off filling out the paperwork, the customer left,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01at which point I see on the camera
0:25:01 > 0:25:04two guys throwing... Literally chucking a sofa onto
0:25:04 > 0:25:06the back of their vehicle.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Justin's instincts kick in from his previous job as a security man.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Right, they're stealing one of our sofas.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15That's it, it was straight over the desk.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Justin races to rescue the sofas from the clutches
0:25:19 > 0:25:22of the white-van men.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Customers being served on both sides by our staff,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28who see me come straight through to the warehouse.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He reaches the store's loading bay doors
0:25:30 > 0:25:33just as the rustlers are loading a second sofa.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35They hear his shouts.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Realising he means business,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39they opt for a quick escape.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Justin recovers one sofa
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and with little thought for his own safety,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46reaches into the van for the other -
0:25:46 > 0:25:49and in the nick of time, as the van pulls away.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52One of my colleagues came out after me
0:25:52 > 0:25:54and shouted, "Did you get the numberplate?"
0:25:54 > 0:25:58On looking, as the vehicle took off out of the car park,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01we noticed that there was a newspaper Sellotaped or stuck over the numberplate
0:26:01 > 0:26:03so preventing us to see what it was.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05They'd got away
0:26:05 > 0:26:07but Justin has saved his firm hundreds of pounds.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09They were real leather sofas.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12I believe they were worth around £500 - £600 each.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15The shop owner, Mark, arrives five minutes later
0:26:15 > 0:26:17and is given the news.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Justin really played down what had actually happened.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23He said, "Oh, someone just tried to nick some sofas.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26"It's on CCTV." So I had a quick look at the CCTV
0:26:26 > 0:26:28and realised how serious it was
0:26:28 > 0:26:31and how serious it could have been, especially for Justin.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- It turns out that there were actually three people in the van. - Let's have a look.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38We've got the two guys there. He's the biggest of the two.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41They're scared, which is great. They are scared of the one guy.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44That's when he overheard the chap, the older man in the van, saying,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47"Leave it," cos I wonder whether then it would have kicked off,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50whether the two guys would've come out and there'd have been an altercation.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Mark hands this footage over to the police.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57He also comes up with a way to alert other local businesses.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01We've got 10,000 people that follow us on a social media network site
0:27:01 > 0:27:04so if I can put the footage straightaway on the internet,
0:27:04 > 0:27:08it will warn friends of mine and other businesses round here
0:27:08 > 0:27:11that sell furniture there is a potential gang of thieves
0:27:11 > 0:27:13going around stealing furniture.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16And it worked. Straightaway, I was getting phone calls and e-mails
0:27:16 > 0:27:20saying thank you for warning them that this was potentially happening in the Northamptonshire area.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23When Justin's family hears about his exploits,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26he doesn't get quite the same level of admiration
0:27:26 > 0:27:28that he got at work.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Getting home and then telling my partner and the children
0:27:32 > 0:27:34and different family members,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37no, they thought it was complete stupidity
0:27:37 > 0:27:40and I should never do it again, and at one point, one of them
0:27:40 > 0:27:43even suggested that I shouldn't come back to work
0:27:43 > 0:27:45if I'm going to do stupid things like that again.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Justin really could have got hurt, yeah.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49We did have a conversation afterwards.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52The boss explained that, under no circumstances,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55should I try any sort of heroics again. It's only a sofa.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57But he was really, really happy
0:27:57 > 0:28:01and a very nice bonus at the end of the month for me.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03And what became of the sofas?
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Well, thanks to Justin's rescue operation...
0:28:06 > 0:28:08No damage at all on the sofas.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11They slid off pretty easily.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Only to be slid back onto a van 24 hours later,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17though this time it's the proper van.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Both of the sofas found a very good home the same day, in actual fact,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and they were delivered the next day, so, yeah, a happy ending.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32That's it for today.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Join us next time, when the police and the public
0:28:35 > 0:28:37catch more criminals red-handed.