0:00:02 > 0:00:04Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour,
0:00:11 > 0:00:14police and other agencies are using new technology and tactics,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18where the bad guys are actually getting caught in the act.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I can see the man actually commit the robbery.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Lovely, thank you very much!
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Local councils, shops and businesses are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Why should we feel frightened for the rest of our lives?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30And the general public, too,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33can help unsuspecting crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35No way are you getting away.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37We did it for everyone else as well that she might be stealing from.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39We will name and shame you.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42So, anyone who is up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46They might just get Caught Red Handed.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Today, we're hot on the trail of a reckless arsonist.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59He gets a taste of his own medicine
0:00:59 > 0:01:01when he sets his own pants on fire!
0:01:02 > 0:01:07Also today, persistent burglars can bring a small business to its knees.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12It was definitely the worst year of my life. It affected just everything.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15These days, the police have eyes in the back of their head.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17It was a bonus that they actually came right up
0:01:17 > 0:01:20towards the camera, giving us a better shot.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24And he stole from them, then asked them for a job.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25You couldn't script it if you wanted to.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28The bizarre case of the unemployed burglar
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and the group of workmates who hatch a cunning plan to catch him.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Monmouth in Wales at 10.30pm.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51This is the back room of a pound store.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We're able to see it because this hidden camera
0:01:56 > 0:01:59has been installed for two days by Gwent Police.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01It's only a tiny camera,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04but it could be a big help in saving a business
0:02:04 > 0:02:07that's been badly hit by two burglaries.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14And yes, it catches a couple of intruders.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Thieves in the night, looking for anything they can take.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21They are particularly attracted to this corner cupboard,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23which contains the well-placed camera.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28They walked straight into a trap.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30That's what I call the money shot.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Burglary is one of the most commonly committed offences.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47In his years on the force, Wayne Alexander from Gwent Police
0:02:47 > 0:02:51has dealt with its aftermath countless times.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54The effects of burglary on people is horrific. When I go round
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and see these victims, I've seen them in tears,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00the amount of intrusion that this person has caused them
0:03:00 > 0:03:03reduces them to tears right in front of me. This is some hours after
0:03:03 > 0:03:05a burglary has happened as well. They're really distraught.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Sometimes I don't think the criminal stops
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and thinks the actual damage they're doing to people's lives.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14But it's not just home owners that suffer in this way.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Small business owners also get hit hard.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22We'll be seeing shortly how Wayne's trap helps the owners of the Monmouth pound shop.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24But first, this is Alison Illsley.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27She runs a toy shop in Dedham, Essex.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31But she used to run a toy shop in Hadleigh, Suffolk, too.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32Note the words "used to".
0:03:32 > 0:03:35This is now a clothes shop run by someone else.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It was definitely the worst year of my life.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It affected just everything.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It had all started so promisingly.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Alison's toy shop in Dedham was going well.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49So she decided to expand the business by opening up
0:03:49 > 0:03:51another one in nearby Hadleigh.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53That's when her problems started.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55A couple of months after we opened,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58that was the first time our windows were smashed.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Alison's new shop gets targeted three times in quick succession.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The new shop's profits are hit,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08not just by the loss of stock, but by the loss of trading days
0:04:08 > 0:04:11while she gets the damage to the shop fixed.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14I never put in my business plan
0:04:14 > 0:04:18that we were going to be vandalised, burgled.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19Three times being broken into...
0:04:19 > 0:04:22We're thousands of pounds down now from the smashed glass
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and not even that much taken.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Also, her insurance premiums rise with every break-in,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30which adds to the spiralling costs.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32It's supposed to be something positive
0:04:32 > 0:04:34that you're doing for your family.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36It's exciting because it's entrepreneurial.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39It's a new venture. It's supposed to be wonderful.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Instead, it just kind of had a domino effect on everything, and...
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I had a really rough time.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48I was quite unhappy.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52It's such hard work, having a business.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Yeah, why would you put yourself through that?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Sadly, Alison had to close her toy shop here in Hadleigh
0:04:59 > 0:05:01just one year after opening.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07The police know first-hand how shopkeepers like Alison
0:05:07 > 0:05:10can be put out of business by constant break-ins, which is why,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14back in Wales, investigator Wayne Alexander has installed
0:05:14 > 0:05:18this camera in the back room of a pound shop in Monmouth.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21The shop's future is being put at risk by a run of burglaries.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24To be honest with you, the ideal scenario would be
0:05:24 > 0:05:27to put a bobby in there overnight, but not cost-effective.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Were they going to come that night? We didn't know.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Wayne is experienced in setting up capture houses
0:05:32 > 0:05:33in crime-ridden areas.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36These are properties specially rigged with cameras
0:05:36 > 0:05:40and other alerts designed to catch thieves in the act.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42And he can use his knowledge here, too,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44to help save a beleaguered business.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46We decided to go covert on this,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49so the ideal solution would be a mini camera which can roll and roll.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52The occupant can switch it on before leaving work for the night,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56switch it back off on arrival to work. So it was ideal, really.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58First, find a place to hide the camera.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02On this occasion, there's a small micro camera in the filing cabinet,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04in a lever arch file,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07in among some stationery in the office area.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Now, sit back and wait for somebody to rob the store.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12And just two days later, at 4pm,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16the staff hang up their coats and go home as usual.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22But then, fast forward 6.5 hours and two men break in,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24searching for anything valuable.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27They rummage around right in front of the camera.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Can't even see the mini camera,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31and the lights are on in the premises as well,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33so they've turned the lights on,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35having a good view and they still can't see it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38There are also motion detectors in the room that alert police
0:06:38 > 0:06:40the store is being robbed.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42In fact, the thieves get away
0:06:42 > 0:06:45just before these two undercover officers arrive.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48But not to worry - the police can just rewind the tape.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50It was a bonus for us,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53they actually came right up towards the camera, giving us a better shot.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57As you can see, it is quite good close-ups there of their faces.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01The men's faces are then circulated around forces to see
0:07:01 > 0:07:03if anyone recognises them,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06and an officer from South Wales Police comes up trumps.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08He knows these shop robbers
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and he's able to shop them to Wayne and the Gwent force.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13It is always nice, really, when you've got the footage
0:07:13 > 0:07:16that we have, the clarity that we have,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18all better in an interview situation,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22where these people deny it, "No, it's not me," etc, etc.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24You then pull up the footage, put it on the table
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and see the actual colour sap out of their faces.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It's very satisfying.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32The two men appear in court.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38This man received a community order with 100 hours' unpaid work...
0:07:40 > 0:07:42While, due to previous offences,
0:07:42 > 0:07:46the other man was sent down for a total of 21 months.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Wayne hopes that word gets around the criminal fraternity
0:07:52 > 0:07:54to reduce crime overall.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56My message to the criminal would be,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I challenge you to find one of our cameras.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Good luck to you, because even myself and my colleagues
0:08:00 > 0:08:03sometimes challenge each other, "'Can you see it?"
0:08:03 > 0:08:04"No, I can't". Just be careful.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Meanwhile, down in Essex, Alison is happily back to running
0:08:10 > 0:08:11just the one store now.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15She also has a message for would-be shop thieves.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17First of all, if you continue,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19there won't be any small businesses to target,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22but you're affecting real people
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and what you're doing does matter.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I think there are probably better ways of earning a living.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35From small businesses to the never-ending business
0:08:35 > 0:08:37of keeping Britain tidy.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Fly-tipping blights many areas,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41but one fed-up council in Lancashire
0:08:41 > 0:08:46has found a covert solution to help clear up a rubbish problem.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55This street corner may look rather non-descript,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58but it's become well known in Preston, Lancashire,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00as a hot spot for fly tipping,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03which is why the council has set up a hidden camera.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08It's just gone 10pm.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12These two men seem to have been at some kind of celebration.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Now, the rubbish thing about any party
0:09:15 > 0:09:18is clearing up the rubbish afterwards.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20It can be a real pain.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22So these two men obviously think,
0:09:22 > 0:09:24"Why not scoop it up and just dump it here
0:09:24 > 0:09:27"and let somebody else deal with it?"
0:09:27 > 0:09:30All six bags and a box of the stuff.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Having taken a load off their mind,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35the pair barely pause between puffing their cigarettes
0:09:35 > 0:09:38to get back in the car and drive off.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42But when Preston Council found the leftover party food
0:09:42 > 0:09:44and plates, they were also fuming.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48They'd installed this camera to catch this sort of offence
0:09:48 > 0:09:50at the moment it's being committed.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54They track down this dumping duo via their car number plate
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and they're fined £200 each.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Party over.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Goodness, gracious,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07a great ball of fire...
0:10:09 > 0:10:13..that makes its mark on a would-be firestarter.
0:10:13 > 0:10:14It must have got his eyebrows
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and then he pedalled off with his backside on fire.
0:10:18 > 0:10:24And a job-seeker who's caught doing a job at the place where he's applied to work.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30"It wasn't me, guv, honest."
0:10:30 > 0:10:32They're the words used both by naughty boys and girls
0:10:32 > 0:10:34and major criminals.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38But these days, technology exists which means the police,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42family and in this case, workmates, won't be so easily fooled.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51This CCTV camera watches over a corridor
0:10:51 > 0:10:54in a Shropshire manufacturing company.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58It looks pretty much like any corridor in any factory.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02But this one has been the scene of an unusual set of circumstances.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You couldn't script it if you wanted to.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06It's one in a million.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10The first couple of men to walk in work here.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14That third man with the strips on his jacket doesn't.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17He's a job-seeker who has just arrived out of the blue
0:11:17 > 0:11:20asking for employment and he's being shown around.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The weird thing is, five weeks ago,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28there was an intruder in this corridor who looks just like him.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30THAT man stole a bag with valuable items in it.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35So now, weeks later, the two suspicious factory staff
0:11:35 > 0:11:39have designed a special job interview for the man.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41If they can prove it was him who stole from them,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44he could find himself in a new position,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46but not quite the one he's hoping for.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51This family-run company in Oswestry, Shropshire,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54employs about 150 staff.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57They mainly make modular rooms that are used in the building
0:11:57 > 0:12:00of hotels or student accommodation blocks.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Nick Davies is the man in charge.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05There is a good head of staff.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08They all look out for each other and would be quite distraught
0:12:08 > 0:12:12if any of them was put in a position in any way, shape or form.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16That camaraderie is needed one night shift
0:12:16 > 0:12:19when one of the workers becomes very upset.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23His rucksack has gone missing and it contains precious items.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27It wasn't just his money or his food for the evening,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30but it was his credit cards, his phone, he even had his passport,
0:12:30 > 0:12:34and a lot of personal letters and stuff from home.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Their distraught workmate has come here from the Czech Republic
0:12:37 > 0:12:40six months ago and he's well liked.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43His colleagues search everywhere for his missing rucksack,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45but can't find it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48His manager Paul hears about it when he arrives in the morning.
0:12:48 > 0:12:54My first thought was to get the CCTV footage of that evening.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56He asks another manager, Graham, to take a look.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Graham records the output from the cameras on his laptop.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02This is what we came up with.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09The man with a dog walks into the corridor.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13To an untrained eye, he looks like he could be a guard on a routine patrol,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17but this man is doing the opposite of securing the place.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19We couldn't believe how brazen he was,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21just walking straight into the factory.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25He emerges from a room where some of the staff keep their bags
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and he's stolen a rucksack.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29If he'd turned left, he would have gone into the factory
0:13:29 > 0:13:32where there are at least 30 people in there
0:13:32 > 0:13:34and would have had his guts for garters.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- The man leaves.- Cigarette in his mouth and the dog wagging his tail.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43The young worker who lost his belongings is very upset.
0:13:43 > 0:13:49The incident knocked Juri about quite a bit and left him feeling very vulnerable.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51His workmates rallied to help him out
0:13:51 > 0:13:54and they sent this footage to the police.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57They also try a bit of detective work themselves.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Especially with him walking his dog,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02we knew he hadn't travelled from miles to do this.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05We tried to push it to the fullest extent to try and find out who he was.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Anybody that walked a dog was a suspect.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10We couldn't establish who it was and unfortunately,
0:14:10 > 0:14:11neither could the police.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Sadly, the young worker is so upset by what has happened,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18he eventually decides to go back to the Czech Republic.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21It was heartbreaking for Juri to go through that experience
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and we lost a good, reliable employee.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And good, reliable employees aren't easy to replace.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Just five weeks later, Graham goes to get something from his car when...
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I saw this young lad walking across the car park.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39He came up to me and asked me
0:14:39 > 0:14:42was there was any employment or any jobs going.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I said, well, I didn't know, but I would ask the question, and would he like to come with me.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49He takes the applicant to see Paul.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52There was something familiar about the gentleman who had walked in.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56It was as he stood up and turned round to walk out of my office,
0:14:56 > 0:15:01I recognised the reflective strips on his jacket.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I sat there in amazement.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07I looked at Paul then and I gave him a little bit of a nod
0:15:07 > 0:15:09and he smiled and looked at me, as much to say,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13"this could be the person we're looking for."
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Paul has to think quickly about what to do next.
0:15:15 > 0:15:21It would have been easy to apprehend him and question him and call the police immediately,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23but we wanted to be 100% sure that it was.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Paul said, "Right, we'll go and fill the application form in".
0:15:27 > 0:15:29So we went down and sat in the canteen.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33The canteen is directly opposite the room where the rucksack was stolen.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36The job application form now has another role to play
0:15:36 > 0:15:39for the managers turned detectives.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42If he hadn't twigged that we were onto him,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45he would then freely give his name, address, all his contact details.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48We didn't pressurise him, if he wanted a job,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52the application form needed filling in, which he did freely.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Leaving the man to fill in his form, Paul and Graham pop outside
0:15:56 > 0:16:00to phone their boss, Nick, to bring him in on the sting.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02The man has filled in the application form,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04but they need to stall him for longer.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06They bring him out of the canteen.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09The plan was to get him out, into the corridor,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12in front of the camera so we could have a good view of him on camera
0:16:12 > 0:16:17so we could look at the two images and make sure we had the right person.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21They choreograph it so the man stands in certain positions.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Holding him up there so we can establish the height,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26the back of his jacket, the distinctive jacket.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Open the door for him to go into the factory,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36they came back in, walked him down to about here,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38stopped to explain what was happening with the clock.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41So we have a clear view of his face.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43And it's a good match.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47His face is the same size in shot from the same angle.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49He didn't suspect anything.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52It looked as though he was quite happy to be able to go to an interview.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55They send him across to Nick's office for a final identity parade,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59which is disguised as the sit-down part of the interview.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03The minute he walked in, it was ironic, really,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06because I had his face up on the screen,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10so it was apparent straightaway that it was definitely, definitely him.
0:17:10 > 0:17:16I turned the screen off and sat him down and we started to take him through the interview.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19One of the managers phones the police.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Now Nick needs to keep the man talking until they arrive.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26It was quite difficult because there was a lot of pent up emotion
0:17:26 > 0:17:31where really, you're thinking to yourself, this guy has invaded our space.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35So we tried to make it as much like a real interview as we possibly could.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40But eventually, you start running out of places to go with it.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Perhaps sensing something is afoot, the applicant is nervous.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47He takes to his feet and leaves before the police arrive.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52Luckily, we'd held him long enough, that the police were actually coming up the road.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54The officers pull over and arrest him.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56He was looking for a new position.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Well, he's got one - down at the police station.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06He admits to stealing the rucksack.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09He is sentenced to complete a 12-month community order
0:18:09 > 0:18:12with 40 days unpaid work.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15He also has to pay costs and compensation.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22At the factory, they still can't believe the man came back for a job
0:18:22 > 0:18:24at the place he came to rob.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27You couldn't script it if you wanted to.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29It's one in a million.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33There was no chance of him getting the job, no chance at all.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35But everybody is pleased with the result.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40It does give you a sense of justice, when they get what they deserve.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43A good result in the end, that he was prosecuted
0:18:43 > 0:18:47and the work we did had some sort of result
0:18:47 > 0:18:50for Juri to take home and take to heart.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00We like to take people at face value but sometimes,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03like this job-seeker, they're not all they seem.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06If we're at home or at work, it's always worth checking out
0:19:06 > 0:19:09if strangers ARE who they say they are.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12If you keep your personal belongings at work,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14don't feel complacent with those,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16don't leave them on your desk.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Lock them in a drawer if you have one.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22A lot of people's place of work is a transient place.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26You may have delivery drivers, you may have lunch people coming in.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Who are they? Check and make sure you know who is in your workplace
0:19:30 > 0:19:33but above all, keep your valuables safe.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35The honest people will not mind at all
0:19:35 > 0:19:37if you take a minute to challenge them
0:19:37 > 0:19:39and ask them to prove their identity -
0:19:39 > 0:19:42give you a card or whatever piece of identification they can
0:19:42 > 0:19:46to prove that they are a bona fide person.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50We've seen another example of someone claiming to look for work
0:19:50 > 0:19:52but is actually looking to steal some cash.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Trouble is though, this chappy is not as bright as he thinks he is.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04A regular customer at this garage,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09this man has just handed in a job application form.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11There he is, top right.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14He obviously thinks he'll get the job because when the shop
0:20:14 > 0:20:16assistant's back is turned,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19he decides to take an advance on his wages...
0:20:19 > 0:20:20straight from the till. Oops!
0:20:20 > 0:20:23She's turned back round - maybe this time?
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Oops! Maybe not. Maybe third time lucky?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Yes! He's got his bonus.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And, after grabbing a bundle of notes,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40he then hangs around for a quick chat with the assistant,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45possibly to discuss further perks of the job! Then he saunters out.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47The theft was quickly discovered
0:20:47 > 0:20:51and the 33-year-old man was tracked down pretty quickly as well.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55You see, the idiot had helpfully filled in the job application
0:20:55 > 0:20:59with his real name, address and other personal details.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01An unsuitable candidate, perhaps.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Chances of being employee of the month? Low.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Chances of being convicted for theft? Very high indeed.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16We have seen today the capture of various scoundrels whose
0:21:16 > 0:21:21crimes have caused distress to businesses and individuals.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Distress, but not so far danger.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Well, that's about to change, in an explosive way -
0:21:28 > 0:21:31though thank goodness, no-one actually gets hurt.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38The town of Congleton, Cheshire.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45It's 4.50am and this man on a small bicycle is up at the crack of dawn.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48He's caught on CCTV in the early morning light,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50but he has dark intentions.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55He is pouring petrol through the letter box of a pub
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and he's about to set light to it.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00He is committing a very serious crime.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Arson is a threat to property and to life.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08The concerning thing was he didn't know whether we lived here or
0:22:08 > 0:22:12a member of staff lived here... The intent is quite nasty.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16But this man's dangerous act is about to seriously backfire.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Steve and Michelle run the club/pub in the heart of Congleton.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34The club is for the benefit of everybody, really.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37We've got a fair cross-section of people who come in.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41We play the football, we do the live bands, we've got the disco,
0:22:41 > 0:22:47- so it's really something for everyone.- Well, nearly everyone.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50On Sunday night, one of the clientele,
0:22:50 > 0:22:5433-year-old Michael Morgan, gets involved in a heated argument
0:22:54 > 0:22:57with another customer just outside the bar.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59When I first became aware of Mr Morgan,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02he was actually outside on the decking area.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05He was a bit sort of agitated. Talked him down,
0:23:05 > 0:23:10got him to the door. For the life of me I couldn't really see as to why he
0:23:10 > 0:23:13wanted to sort of kick off, because there was nothing to kick off.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15I just said, "Best to go, isn't it?"
0:23:15 > 0:23:18And he did and that was the end of that, as I thought.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22But for Michael Morgan, that certainly wasn't the end of that.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Steve and Michelle live just up the road from the pub and extremely
0:23:26 > 0:23:29early next morning they're woken by the milkman calling out.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31He was shouting, "There's a fire, there's a fire!"
0:23:31 > 0:23:34He'd saw this flash of flame as he drove past.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37His immediate reaction was to raise the alarm
0:23:37 > 0:23:42- so if there was anybody in there, to get them out.- I felt physically sick.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I didn't know the extent of the damage.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47The milkman has also called the fire service.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50They are there by the time Steve arrives at the pub.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Thankfully, they found the flames haven't taken hold.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57The main concern was what was going to happen,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59what we were going to see when we opened the door.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I open the door and it was just filled with smoke, really.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06You could see that the carpet had been melted.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08The light fittings had melted...
0:24:08 > 0:24:11But no real damage, if you know what I mean. Just filled with smoke.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Then comes the unpleasant realisation...
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Quite obvious that this was deliberate,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22somebody had attempted to set the place on fire.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25All sorts of things rush to mind - who have we upset?
0:24:25 > 0:24:27What is the reason? Why?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30But then Steve remembered showing Michael Morgan the door
0:24:30 > 0:24:32the night before.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34He puts two and two together and checks to see if the pub
0:24:34 > 0:24:38security cameras have captured anything - and they have.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41But it's not at all the sort of thing
0:24:41 > 0:24:44the couple were expecting to see.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47When we saw the CCTV, we couldn't believe our eyes.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49What an absolute idiot.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53And here's why. As Morgan cycles into view...
0:24:53 > 0:24:55He's on a little child's bike,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57which looks a little bit ridiculous as well...
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Using a plastic bottle to pour the petrol in through the pub's
0:25:00 > 0:25:01letter box...
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Morgan then rather unwisely puts the petrol-soaked bottle
0:25:05 > 0:25:08in his back pocket and gets ready to ignite.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12But he's about to get a bit more than he bargained for.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16And then he proceeded to bend down and light it.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23There was just this almighty big burst of flames...
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Must have got his eyebrows,
0:25:26 > 0:25:31and then he pedalled off with his backside on fire. It was hilarious!
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Not so much red-handed as red-cheeked, maybe.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37But of course, this is no laughing matter.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39This would have been a dangerous fire
0:25:39 > 0:25:42if the arsonist hadn't made a serious miscalculation.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45What he didn't realise was that we'd actually taken away
0:25:45 > 0:25:48the Macclesfield step because people were tripping over it.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51A Macclesfield step is a type of sill that prevents
0:25:51 > 0:25:53rainwater from seeping under a door.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56So as he tipped the petrol into the letter box, it ran down the
0:25:56 > 0:26:00back of the door, then ran out under the door to where he was standing.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Here we have the letter box where he poured the petrol through.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07As he bent down to light it, there was a pool of petrol here
0:26:07 > 0:26:11and on the pavement and he was totally engulfed in flames.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The next parting shot is that you see him
0:26:14 > 0:26:19firing up Chapel Street with a rocket-powered backside!
0:26:19 > 0:26:23The police, the fire brigade, myself and Steve were just
0:26:23 > 0:26:27stood there laughing at the footage because it was so incredibly stupid!
0:26:30 > 0:26:31Moments later,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34the police radio to say they've apprehended Morgan.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39I just said well, basically, "How did you get him so quickly?"
0:26:39 > 0:26:41I think their response was quite simple,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45that it's quite easy to recognise an adult on a child's bike
0:26:45 > 0:26:49pedalling up West Street with his backside on fire!
0:26:49 > 0:26:53But joking aside, Morgan's actions could have had serious consequences.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59It's a Grade II listed building, it dates back to the 1700s.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01If you set fire to a small part of it, there is
0:27:01 > 0:27:04the possibility that it can go through the whole of the building
0:27:04 > 0:27:08and then that leads to the adjoining properties, it would
0:27:08 > 0:27:11set fire to them, and endangering the people in there, as well.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14We're very lucky that we have a secondary door.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17If it wasn't for that door, the damage would have been much worse.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21The concerning thing really was the fact that he didn't know
0:27:21 > 0:27:25whether we lived here or a member of staff lived here
0:27:25 > 0:27:29and so the intent is quite nasty in many ways.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Chester Crown Court agreed and after admitting one count of arson,
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Michael Morgan is sentenced to 2½ years in prison.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47The Fire and Rescue Service have also released the footage to
0:27:47 > 0:27:50highlight the dangers that are caused by an arson attack,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54as well as the cost of their time and resources.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I know from what we've seen, the footage is quite funny,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59but things could have been a lot worse.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Yes, there's a serious side to this.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Fortunately, with relatively minor damage, Steve and Michelle were
0:28:05 > 0:28:10able to open soon after the incident and didn't lose much custom.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13But there's one customer their doors will remain closed to.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17In the light of the offence and the sentence that was passed on him,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21I think we will impose and maintain a lifetime ban on him,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25because I don't think that he would be welcome here, really.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26He's upset too many people.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34That's it for today - join us next time when the police
0:28:34 > 0:28:37and the public catch more criminals red-handed!