Episode 6

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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 > 0:00:12To cut down on crime and anti-social behaviour

0:00:12 > 0:00:15the police are using new tactics and technology

0:00:15 > 0:00:18where the bad guys are 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 > 0:00:26Local councils, shops and businesses are 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 > 0:00:33And the general public too can help unsuspecting crooks get 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 may be stealing from.

0:00:38 > 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.

0:00:43 > 0:00:46They might just get caught red-handed.

0:00:52 > 0:00:55Today, the armed robbers who attacked a jeweller's shop

0:00:55 > 0:00:57in a terrifying high-street hold-up.

0:00:57 > 0:01:00I thought absolutely I was going to die at any moment.

0:01:00 > 0:01:03And, unbelievably, a year later, the same gang

0:01:03 > 0:01:08and their guns are back for more. This time the jewellers fight back.

0:01:10 > 0:01:13Also today, drug driving and a driver who is

0:01:13 > 0:01:16so high on drugs he can barely walk.

0:01:16 > 0:01:18I would hate to think any of my family was out on the road

0:01:18 > 0:01:20with him driving a vehicle.

0:01:20 > 0:01:24He has to be stopped before he's back behind the wheel.

0:01:24 > 0:01:26And sneaks and ladders.

0:01:26 > 0:01:30This man makes the mistake of stealing from a security expert.

0:01:42 > 0:01:45These CCTV cameras are situated at a jewellery shop

0:01:45 > 0:01:47in Winchester, Hampshire.

0:01:48 > 0:01:52It's four days to go until Christmas and inside it is warm

0:01:52 > 0:01:56and busy with customers buying gifts for loved ones.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59But the atmosphere is about to change to one of cold terror.

0:02:02 > 0:02:05The cameras show three men walking up to the shop.

0:02:06 > 0:02:09They fling open the door, they rush in

0:02:09 > 0:02:11and the man in front pulls out a gun.

0:02:13 > 0:02:17Suddenly, the people in the shop find themselves face-to-face

0:02:17 > 0:02:19with cold, callous armed criminals.

0:02:20 > 0:02:24As we will see a bit later, what happens next the customers

0:02:24 > 0:02:28and staff will never forget. But neither will the robbers.

0:02:28 > 0:02:31Their lives are about to change for ever.

0:02:40 > 0:02:43Jeremy France first set up his jeweller's shop

0:02:43 > 0:02:45in Winchester 25 years ago.

0:02:45 > 0:02:49We have our own workshops, selling, making and repairing jewellery.

0:02:49 > 0:02:51And we sell a lot of diamond engagement rings.

0:02:51 > 0:02:56Jeremy's enterprise has grown with a loyal following of customers

0:02:56 > 0:02:59and faithful staff, like sales advisor Bryan.

0:02:59 > 0:03:00I have a lovely job

0:03:00 > 0:03:02of helping people choose their engagement rings,

0:03:02 > 0:03:04wedding rings, eternity rings,

0:03:04 > 0:03:06other gift things like christening gifts

0:03:06 > 0:03:09so, you know, all the happy moments in people's lives.

0:03:09 > 0:03:10A nice trade to be in,

0:03:10 > 0:03:14creating and selling beautiful objects for happy occasions.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20But the problem is it's also a business that is attractive

0:03:20 > 0:03:22to the ugly world of crime and violence.

0:03:24 > 0:03:27Your insurers tell you at a stage you become a target.

0:03:27 > 0:03:31There is a moment when it is obvious to everybody that at some stage

0:03:31 > 0:03:33somebody is going to have a go.

0:03:33 > 0:03:38The training that we had from Jeremy to expect at some point

0:03:38 > 0:03:40you are going to have a robbery.

0:03:40 > 0:03:43Almost like an occupational hazard,

0:03:43 > 0:03:45is something that you have to accept.

0:03:45 > 0:03:48In fact, it's not the first time Jeremy's shop has faced

0:03:48 > 0:03:50an armed raid.

0:03:50 > 0:03:53Incredibly, this selfsame gang of armed robbers

0:03:53 > 0:03:55attacked his shop just 12 months earlier.

0:03:59 > 0:04:02On that occasion, it was near closing time

0:04:02 > 0:04:05and just off-camera near the bottom right of your screen,

0:04:05 > 0:04:07Jeremy was serving a valued customer.

0:04:07 > 0:04:11I, funnily enough, was on a day off but I'd come in to see a client.

0:04:11 > 0:04:15She was eight months pregnant and I was dealing with her.

0:04:15 > 0:04:18That time it was two men who approached the shop.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21They rushed in and both of them pulled out guns.

0:04:22 > 0:04:26First thing I knew was a gun was getting closer and closer to my face.

0:04:26 > 0:04:30It was a Smith & Wesson seven inch barrel six shooter

0:04:30 > 0:04:34and I thought absolutely I was going to die at any moment.

0:04:34 > 0:04:39That day, Bryan was in the office just behind where Jeremy was standing

0:04:39 > 0:04:42together with Jeremy's wife and other staff members.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45I was very scared for Jeremy and for the customers.

0:04:45 > 0:04:48We also had two other members of staff in the shop as well.

0:04:48 > 0:04:49You are very, very concerned for them

0:04:49 > 0:04:54because it doesn't take much for a robbery to turn really violent.

0:04:54 > 0:04:57All it takes is for someone to take a dislike to you.

0:04:59 > 0:05:01Jeremy's training kicked in.

0:05:01 > 0:05:04They're shouting, "Get down, get on the ground!" which I did.

0:05:04 > 0:05:06I helped the young lady down to the ground.

0:05:06 > 0:05:10She was very pregnant and luckily my staff nearby also did the same.

0:05:10 > 0:05:13They're all well trained and they did as they were told.

0:05:13 > 0:05:15Then two more men with crowbars arrive.

0:05:15 > 0:05:18Their job was to ransack the shelves, smash and grab.

0:05:18 > 0:05:22They went down to the other end of the shop where the jewellery is kept

0:05:22 > 0:05:26and they started breaking the windows open one by one

0:05:26 > 0:05:27to get the jewellery out.

0:05:27 > 0:05:31If they are able to, staff members discreetly hit their panic buttons

0:05:31 > 0:05:34which sets off an alarm and alerts the police.

0:05:34 > 0:05:36We carry them on us these days, as well they knew

0:05:36 > 0:05:40because they tore mine off me but seven panic buttons were pressed

0:05:40 > 0:05:43and we're only allowed to press them if we are out of sight and not in danger.

0:05:43 > 0:05:47Jeremy's wife also bravely gets on the phone in the office

0:05:47 > 0:05:49which is protected by an armoured door.

0:05:49 > 0:05:52It became quite clear to them we were on the phone to police

0:05:52 > 0:05:54because she was being quite loud in speaking to the police.

0:05:54 > 0:05:56The next thing I saw him do was he walked past me

0:05:56 > 0:05:58and I knew what he was going to do.

0:05:58 > 0:06:01He was trying to kick the door down to the office.

0:06:01 > 0:06:04We sort of all managed to hide under the desks.

0:06:04 > 0:06:09It's amazing how much six people can squeeze into a very small space.

0:06:09 > 0:06:11Mrs France carried on calling the police

0:06:11 > 0:06:13and describing what was happening.

0:06:13 > 0:06:17The robbers sweep as much valuable jewellery as they can into their sacks.

0:06:17 > 0:06:21It seems like it goes on for hours but it is actually minutes.

0:06:21 > 0:06:26Time really does feel like it slows down to a crawl.

0:06:26 > 0:06:29After more than two minutes of terrorising the staff and customers,

0:06:29 > 0:06:32the security cameras show the robbers quickly leave

0:06:32 > 0:06:35to reach their getaway car before the police get there.

0:06:36 > 0:06:42Once we realised they had gone, we sort of all locked the door

0:06:42 > 0:06:45and sort of made sure that everyone was OK.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48We were very stunned afterwards, to be honest.

0:06:49 > 0:06:53The police arrive and Jeremy takes stock of what was stolen.

0:06:53 > 0:06:58They actually got away with a quarter of a million pounds' worth of jewellery.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00The loss is covered by an insurance company

0:07:00 > 0:07:03but the shock from the danger had a lasting effect.

0:07:03 > 0:07:05For a good week or two afterwards I think

0:07:05 > 0:07:09we were all a little bit jumpy when people came in.

0:07:09 > 0:07:11If they looked a bit like the robbers

0:07:11 > 0:07:13or they were wearing similar clothes.

0:07:13 > 0:07:18But we are all determined to get on and you can't let them get you down.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21I felt that we were going to be OK, that we would beat them,

0:07:21 > 0:07:23they would not beat us.

0:07:23 > 0:07:27Jeremy and his staff became increasingly angry about what had happened.

0:07:27 > 0:07:31It's a case of you feeling how dare they come into where I work,

0:07:31 > 0:07:33point guns at people that I like, you know.

0:07:33 > 0:07:36I had dreams. They weren't nightmares as such

0:07:36 > 0:07:41but my dreams were like survivors' dreams but almost the reverse.

0:07:41 > 0:07:44I wanted to do more, I wanted to have taken the gun off them,

0:07:44 > 0:07:47I wanted to capture them.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50And Jeremy's dream turns out to be a premonition

0:07:50 > 0:07:54because he hears about some new advanced technology.

0:07:54 > 0:07:56Literally a few months later,

0:07:56 > 0:07:58two pieces of equipment became available to us.

0:07:58 > 0:08:00One of them is called SmokeCloak

0:08:00 > 0:08:02and the other one is a DNA-encoded liquid.

0:08:02 > 0:08:05It's special equipment that is designed to foil robberies

0:08:05 > 0:08:10and it might be just what Jeremy needs to help protect his business.

0:08:13 > 0:08:15Later, the horror returns when,

0:08:15 > 0:08:17about a year on from that original raid,

0:08:17 > 0:08:19the armed robbers strike again.

0:08:22 > 0:08:26Another terrifying attack but this time, as we'll see shortly,

0:08:26 > 0:08:29Jeremy tries to turn the tables on this violent gang.

0:08:36 > 0:08:40But first, to another type of dangerous crime and a man who

0:08:40 > 0:08:44is in charge of a weapon every bit as lethal as a loaded gun.

0:08:44 > 0:08:48He is driving a car while under the influence of drugs.

0:08:54 > 0:08:59It's Saturday afternoon in Guisborough in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland.

0:09:00 > 0:09:05CCTV footage catches a small blue car pulling up into a petrol station.

0:09:05 > 0:09:08The driver nearly crashes into the petrol pump

0:09:08 > 0:09:11and that's the first sign something is wrong.

0:09:13 > 0:09:15He then tries to get out of the car.

0:09:17 > 0:09:21But collapses back into the passenger's arms who has to push him back up.

0:09:24 > 0:09:27Clearly, he is in no fit state to be driving.

0:09:29 > 0:09:31Without putting any petrol in the car,

0:09:31 > 0:09:33he then gets back in and drives away.

0:09:35 > 0:09:39Incredibly, this man is about to head out onto a busy road.

0:09:43 > 0:09:44But at the last moment,

0:09:44 > 0:09:47the car stops right in the middle of the garage exit.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52The passenger gets out, followed by the driver.

0:09:54 > 0:09:57If you look closely at the man on the right, the driver of the car,

0:09:57 > 0:10:01he can hardly stand up, let alone operate a vehicle.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07Walking like a damaged robot, he's off to the garage kiosk

0:10:07 > 0:10:10to pay for petrol he didn't even put in his car.

0:10:14 > 0:10:16It turns out this man is high on drugs

0:10:16 > 0:10:20and it is one of the most shocking cases of drug driving

0:10:20 > 0:10:25that PC Mark Sykes, the officer who eventually caught him, has ever seen.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28I would hate to think any of my family was out on the road,

0:10:28 > 0:10:30walking, biking or in the car,

0:10:30 > 0:10:33with him driving a vehicle out there.

0:10:33 > 0:10:36It is absolutely terrifying to think.

0:10:36 > 0:10:39We've all heard the message don't drink and drive.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43What perhaps what is not so well-known is the devastating effect

0:10:43 > 0:10:45that drugs use has on driving.

0:10:47 > 0:10:51Clare Brixey has personal knowledge of the disastrous effects

0:10:51 > 0:10:55that alcohol and drugs can bring after her son Ashley

0:10:55 > 0:10:57was involved in a tragic accident.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01He got into the back of his friend's car,

0:11:01 > 0:11:06a 17-year-old girl got into the front passenger seat,

0:11:06 > 0:11:11Ashley's friend got into the driver's seat

0:11:11 > 0:11:16whilst having more than twice the limit of alcohol

0:11:16 > 0:11:20and an abusive level of drugs in his system.

0:11:20 > 0:11:25They left Bath travelling at a speed exceeding 80mph.

0:11:25 > 0:11:29On the approach to a very sharp left-hand bend,

0:11:29 > 0:11:31the car left the road,

0:11:31 > 0:11:35it went up an embankment, across the top of a wall,

0:11:35 > 0:11:40through a garden fence, across part of the garden

0:11:40 > 0:11:43and almost cleared the full length of the swimming pool.

0:11:43 > 0:11:48The 17-year-old girl was thrown from the car into the pool

0:11:48 > 0:11:50and she managed to get out.

0:11:51 > 0:11:56The driver got out of the car without a mark on him.

0:11:56 > 0:12:01But Ashley, my son, had been knocked unconscious during that crash

0:12:01 > 0:12:03and he couldn't get out.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05He drowned.

0:12:06 > 0:12:09Clare now works together with Wiltshire Fire And Rescue

0:12:09 > 0:12:12on a successful campaign to help prevent tragedies

0:12:12 > 0:12:14that are caused by drink or drug driving.

0:12:16 > 0:12:20Back now to Guisborough in Redcar and Cleveland Borough.

0:12:20 > 0:12:24You'll remember the car driver we saw high on drugs

0:12:24 > 0:12:27wobbling towards the garage kiosk to pay for petrol.

0:12:27 > 0:12:30Petrol that he thought he'd put in his car but hadn't.

0:12:31 > 0:12:34PC Mark Sykes reviews the CCTV footage

0:12:34 > 0:12:37that's caught the driver red-handed.

0:12:37 > 0:12:42It's just totally unbelievable how nothing serious did happen

0:12:42 > 0:12:44for the state he was in.

0:12:44 > 0:12:49The vehicle pulls forward right up to the exit route of the garage,

0:12:49 > 0:12:54blocking the main route out for other garage users.

0:12:54 > 0:12:59When he gets out and he pitter-patters his feet in a circle

0:12:59 > 0:13:04and gains his balance and he looks like something out of Thunderbirds.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07He is an adult male, he can't walk properly.

0:13:07 > 0:13:11If he's in a car driving it, if something happened in front of him,

0:13:11 > 0:13:13he wouldn't be able to deal with that straightaway.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16It's just endless, the list of what could have happened.

0:13:16 > 0:13:19Garage staff clocked the man's erratic behaviour

0:13:19 > 0:13:21and phoned the police.

0:13:21 > 0:13:24I get the call from a member of staff via my radio saying there was

0:13:24 > 0:13:28a gentleman on the forecourt under the influence of drink or drugs.

0:13:28 > 0:13:31I drove straight there and he was in the kiosk area

0:13:31 > 0:13:36at the time of our arrival trying to pay for petrol he didn't get.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38So he's put the cashier in such a state

0:13:38 > 0:13:41he doesn't realise what's going on.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44And he's totally oblivious that he's done anything wrong.

0:13:46 > 0:13:49Thankfully, all the delays give Mark and his colleague enough time

0:13:49 > 0:13:53to get to the petrol station before the man is able to drive off.

0:13:53 > 0:13:56He does a breath test, he passes the breath test,

0:13:56 > 0:13:57he only blows 12 and then he says to us,

0:13:57 > 0:14:00"See? I told you, I've done nothing wrong."

0:14:00 > 0:14:02But he's still got the white residue around his nose

0:14:02 > 0:14:04and he is totally off the planet.

0:14:04 > 0:14:07He's just repeating himself, he's twitching.

0:14:07 > 0:14:10I thought he is obviously under the influence of cocaine.

0:14:14 > 0:14:18And Mark was right. The man had taken a large amount of cocaine.

0:14:19 > 0:14:23He pleads guilty at court and was given a 12-week sentence

0:14:23 > 0:14:25suspended for 18 months,

0:14:25 > 0:14:30150 hours unpaid work and a four-year driving ban.

0:14:32 > 0:14:37I was absolutely ecstatic. And I mean ecstatic.

0:14:37 > 0:14:41It was nice to know that the judgment I had made at the time was correct.

0:14:42 > 0:14:45It was even better to know that somebody

0:14:45 > 0:14:48driving on a road in that condition was off the road for four years,

0:14:48 > 0:14:51over and done with and his punishment was given.

0:14:53 > 0:14:57The driver of the car in which Ashley was a back-seat passenger

0:14:57 > 0:15:01was also convicted but that's little comfort for his mum, Clare.

0:15:02 > 0:15:06The Safe Drive campaign she now works for in Wiltshire has helped

0:15:06 > 0:15:09bring down car accidents involving young drivers

0:15:09 > 0:15:13and passengers by 55% over six years.

0:15:13 > 0:15:15The message is clear.

0:15:15 > 0:15:20If you're going to drive, don't take drugs, don't drink alcohol.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23The cost of a taxi will never compare to the cost of a life.

0:15:29 > 0:15:31Coming up on Caught Red Handed -

0:15:31 > 0:15:32a thief taking steps

0:15:32 > 0:15:34in the wrong direction

0:15:34 > 0:15:36and very much the wrong place.

0:15:36 > 0:15:39You don't really expect a CCTV installation company

0:15:39 > 0:15:40to be a target of crime.

0:15:40 > 0:15:44Extending ladders and extending problems for the thief.

0:15:53 > 0:15:55Back to Winchester, Hampshire.

0:15:56 > 0:16:00After the terrifying robbery at his jewellery shop a year ago, owner

0:16:00 > 0:16:05Jeremy France has decided to invest in some clever new technology.

0:16:05 > 0:16:08SmokeCloak, literally, is similar to the smoke

0:16:08 > 0:16:10that they put out in theatres.

0:16:10 > 0:16:12What they have done is they have worked through

0:16:12 > 0:16:15so that it was legal and safe to be used within a shop.

0:16:15 > 0:16:18It basically fills the shop with an impenetrable smoke.

0:16:18 > 0:16:20You can't even see your hand in front of your face.

0:16:20 > 0:16:22So, you know, it's the old adage

0:16:22 > 0:16:24that if you can't see it, you can't steal it.

0:16:24 > 0:16:28The smoke is designed to confuse and drive the robbers away.

0:16:28 > 0:16:30Another clever piece of kit

0:16:30 > 0:16:33helps the police catch up with them afterwards.

0:16:33 > 0:16:35This is an amazing innovation.

0:16:35 > 0:16:40In effect, it is a DNA-encoded liquid which sprays when activated.

0:16:40 > 0:16:43If you get caught by the police, they can basically see

0:16:43 > 0:16:46the water on you and it proves you were there when it fired.

0:16:46 > 0:16:48Therefore, you can't argue that,

0:16:48 > 0:16:51"I wasn't there, I had nothing to do with it."

0:16:51 > 0:16:53So, the jewellers will be better prepared

0:16:53 > 0:16:56if there's ever another attack.

0:16:56 > 0:16:58Once you've been robbed once, they're more likely to come back

0:16:58 > 0:17:00cos if they've had a good score once,

0:17:00 > 0:17:04they'll think, "Oh, I'll go back there and rob it again."

0:17:04 > 0:17:07And that's exactly what happens the very next Christmas.

0:17:07 > 0:17:10But the staff are extra-vigilant.

0:17:10 > 0:17:13Jewellers, generally, have more stock at Christmas.

0:17:13 > 0:17:17I think everybody knows that. And so we do become more vulnerable.

0:17:17 > 0:17:18And, sure enough...

0:17:18 > 0:17:20Christmas brings Father Christmas

0:17:20 > 0:17:22but it also brings armed robbery, in our case.

0:17:22 > 0:17:25Early evening, and the shop is busy.

0:17:25 > 0:17:28This time, Jeremy is in the back office, while Bryan

0:17:28 > 0:17:31and other staff are dealing with customers.

0:17:33 > 0:17:36Three hooded men approach the doorway.

0:17:36 > 0:17:40Ignoring the warning signs about the newly installed equipment,

0:17:40 > 0:17:42they burst in and brandish a gun.

0:17:44 > 0:17:47They sort of came in and made all the noise

0:17:47 > 0:17:49and waved the gun around a lot.

0:17:49 > 0:17:52Pointed it at a couple of my colleagues and customers as well.

0:17:52 > 0:17:53I mean, that's the thing -

0:17:53 > 0:17:57this time there was a lot of customers in the shop and that's who

0:17:57 > 0:18:00I was really worried about because, you know, they've had no training.

0:18:00 > 0:18:03When three men run into your store wearing dark clothing,

0:18:03 > 0:18:05gloves and balaclavas, it's pretty frightening.

0:18:05 > 0:18:08When they pull up a gun, it's terrifying.

0:18:08 > 0:18:10But also at that point, I knew we had the water,

0:18:10 > 0:18:12I knew we had the SmokeCloak.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16I was still scared but I felt safer knowing that we had these things.

0:18:16 > 0:18:18I was just waiting for that to go off.

0:18:18 > 0:18:21In the office, Jeremy has an early-warning system with him -

0:18:21 > 0:18:23Daisy, his dog.

0:18:23 > 0:18:26We could actually hear Daisy barking.

0:18:26 > 0:18:28Now, Daisy never barks so it was quite strange.

0:18:28 > 0:18:32We looked up and saw the gun, obviously, so we hit the buttons.

0:18:32 > 0:18:34Smoke starts to fill the room from two angles.

0:18:34 > 0:18:37We have it firing from one end and the other end of the room so it

0:18:37 > 0:18:41creates a corridor and that corridor is for the robbers to escape through.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43We do not want them kept on the premises.

0:18:43 > 0:18:45We want them out as quickly as possible.

0:18:45 > 0:18:48And it works. The startled robbers scarper.

0:18:48 > 0:18:51When it fired off, they really did panic.

0:18:51 > 0:18:53Very colourful language was used.

0:18:53 > 0:18:55Of course, they then ran through the channel which has got

0:18:55 > 0:18:57the water in it and they're covered in it.

0:18:57 > 0:18:59Like sheep through a sheep dip,

0:18:59 > 0:19:02the robbers are herded through the marking liquid.

0:19:02 > 0:19:05They are now marked for good - linked to this crime.

0:19:05 > 0:19:09Damp and empty-handed, they sprint for their getaway car.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14A moment later, a jubilant Jeremy appears in the doorway.

0:19:14 > 0:19:17I think there was a feeling of huge success that everything

0:19:17 > 0:19:19we had planned worked perfectly.

0:19:23 > 0:19:26The gang of armed robbers are eventually rounded up

0:19:26 > 0:19:27by police in Birmingham.

0:19:30 > 0:19:34Covered in the revealing liquid, they are found guilty in court

0:19:34 > 0:19:38and are put in prison for a combined total of 28 years.

0:19:43 > 0:19:46It turns out that Jeremy's equipment might also have saved

0:19:46 > 0:19:50a lot of other jewellers from violent robberies in the future.

0:19:50 > 0:19:53The gang that robbed us were escalating, in the police's view.

0:19:53 > 0:19:56They were robbing more and more and more dangerously.

0:19:56 > 0:20:01They were starting to cause injury and I think, when they got to us,

0:20:01 > 0:20:04they were on either 12 or 14, so they weren't going to stop

0:20:04 > 0:20:06until they got caught.

0:20:06 > 0:20:11Since then, Jeremy and the staff have had no more terrifying ordeals.

0:20:11 > 0:20:14They're back, happily making and selling jewellery,

0:20:14 > 0:20:18safe in the knowledge that they are well-protected.

0:20:18 > 0:20:23Why should we feel frightened for the rest of our lives? Well, I won't be.

0:20:23 > 0:20:24You can't live your whole life

0:20:24 > 0:20:27in fear that something's going to happen again or else they win.

0:20:27 > 0:20:30You know, you've got to move on and carry on.

0:20:36 > 0:20:39When Jeremy first triggered his equipment,

0:20:39 > 0:20:42it was the first time it had ever been used during an actual

0:20:42 > 0:20:46robbery in the UK and, boy, did it prove its effectiveness!

0:20:46 > 0:20:49Now it's in use right across the country.

0:20:49 > 0:20:52If more people use more new, modern technology,

0:20:52 > 0:20:55we can bring more offenders to justice and catch more criminals.

0:20:55 > 0:20:58Ask your local police about the technology available

0:20:58 > 0:21:00to help you in the fight against crime.

0:21:04 > 0:21:07Now, another business that's had something stolen

0:21:07 > 0:21:09and where technology plays its part.

0:21:09 > 0:21:13This time, in a game of sneaks and ladders.

0:21:19 > 0:21:22It's the early hours of the morning.

0:21:22 > 0:21:24A man stops by a house.

0:21:24 > 0:21:26He seems very interested in some equipment that's been

0:21:26 > 0:21:28left on this driveway.

0:21:28 > 0:21:32In particular, a set of extension ladders.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35To avoid overextending himself climbing over the wall,

0:21:35 > 0:21:36he sneaks around it.

0:21:38 > 0:21:41And he makes off with his ill-gotten gains.

0:21:42 > 0:21:47But little does he know that this ladder belongs to a security expert.

0:21:47 > 0:21:51A man well-equipped to take steps to get his steps back.

0:21:57 > 0:21:59Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.

0:22:01 > 0:22:04Barrie lives in this house with his partner and two young children.

0:22:05 > 0:22:10Six years ago, he set up a company specialising in CCTV

0:22:10 > 0:22:13and other security systems for small businesses.

0:22:14 > 0:22:19I fit CCTV for a living so I know the value of decent-quality kit.

0:22:19 > 0:22:21The results you get out of it are ten times better.

0:22:21 > 0:22:23I've had people go to County Court

0:22:23 > 0:22:26and things like that, where I've captured thefts in restaurants

0:22:26 > 0:22:28and hotels and bits and pieces and nightclub fights

0:22:28 > 0:22:30and things like that,

0:22:30 > 0:22:34and there really is mileage in spending decent money on CCTV.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37If you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41Barrie installed some of his hi tech kit on his own house

0:22:41 > 0:22:44so he can demonstrate how it works to potential customers.

0:22:44 > 0:22:46People can actually dial into the cameras that I've got here

0:22:46 > 0:22:49and be able to view the type of things that they'd be able

0:22:49 > 0:22:51to achieve if they had them themselves.

0:22:51 > 0:22:54Of course, the best way to show off the equipment would be to

0:22:54 > 0:22:56actually catch someone in the act.

0:22:56 > 0:23:00But the chances of that happening around here are pretty slim.

0:23:00 > 0:23:01It is a decent neighbourhood.

0:23:01 > 0:23:03It's a nice place to live and, luckily,

0:23:03 > 0:23:05we don't get too much crime.

0:23:08 > 0:23:11But one evening, Barrie stores his set of ladders on the front drive.

0:23:11 > 0:23:14I've got secure storage where the ladders are kept and locked

0:23:14 > 0:23:16but, in this case, it was late one night,

0:23:16 > 0:23:18we just finished the job and just put the ladders down.

0:23:18 > 0:23:20We didn't really think twice.

0:23:20 > 0:23:23It's the weekend so Barrie forgets about the ladders

0:23:23 > 0:23:25until getting ready for the next week's work.

0:23:25 > 0:23:27Just getting the van ready on the Sunday night

0:23:27 > 0:23:30ready for the Monday morning, realise the ladders weren't there, phoned

0:23:30 > 0:23:33other work colleagues just to make sure they didn't have the ladders.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35They didn't.

0:23:35 > 0:23:39Knowing his flight of steps couldn't have flown away on their own,

0:23:39 > 0:23:43Barrie goes to see if his demo camera has spotted something.

0:23:43 > 0:23:47The camera moves around and it stays effectively where I leave it.

0:23:47 > 0:23:50I just so happened to leave it looking at the perfect spot.

0:23:53 > 0:23:56Two o'clock in the morning.

0:23:56 > 0:23:59A man in a hoodie with a very noticeable logo on it

0:23:59 > 0:24:01stops by Barrie's wall.

0:24:03 > 0:24:05After a pause, he looks up at an open bedroom window

0:24:05 > 0:24:08to check if anyone's watching.

0:24:08 > 0:24:12He doesn't see or he ignores the very obvious camera.

0:24:13 > 0:24:16Pulling his cuff down, maybe to mask fingerprints -

0:24:16 > 0:24:19though he gives up on that - he moves aside a plank of wood.

0:24:25 > 0:24:27Then, weighing up that the ladder is too heavy,

0:24:27 > 0:24:29he decides to change tack.

0:24:29 > 0:24:32Another glance up and, still oblivious to the camera,

0:24:32 > 0:24:36he risks creeping in across the noisy gravel...

0:24:40 > 0:24:42..carefully picks up the ladder...

0:24:44 > 0:24:45..then legs it.

0:24:47 > 0:24:49And Barrie has found that his own camera

0:24:49 > 0:24:52has captured a real thief in action.

0:24:52 > 0:24:53Really shocked, to be fair.

0:24:53 > 0:24:57You don't ever really expect... Fair enough, I install CCTV.

0:24:57 > 0:25:01Not saying that that guy knew that, but you don't really expect

0:25:01 > 0:25:04a CCTV installation company to be a target of crime.

0:25:04 > 0:25:06So, really shocked because of that.

0:25:06 > 0:25:08And then, as time went on, you kind of feel, you know,

0:25:08 > 0:25:11"I really want to get this guy. I really want to capture this guy."

0:25:11 > 0:25:13So, you know, the anger sets in.

0:25:13 > 0:25:16Barrie's worked out that, how should we say,

0:25:16 > 0:25:18he's probably not dealing with a master criminal?

0:25:18 > 0:25:21The camera being up here, it's glaringly obvious.

0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's not a small camera. It's got infrared lights on the sides.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28In pitch darkness, they glow bright red, basically,

0:25:28 > 0:25:30so, you know, it's obvious it's there.

0:25:30 > 0:25:34He even looked up at the bedroom window and just carried on going.

0:25:34 > 0:25:38He had this big logo on his top. It just seems crazy, really.

0:25:38 > 0:25:41I guess he lived fairly locally. He came down the hill behind us

0:25:41 > 0:25:44and then he, you know, stole the ladders and walked back

0:25:44 > 0:25:47in the same direction, which tells me he doesn't live very far away.

0:25:47 > 0:25:49You know, they're heavy ladders

0:25:49 > 0:25:51so he's not going to get very far with them.

0:25:51 > 0:25:53Barrie hands over footage of the thief to the police

0:25:53 > 0:25:56and also begins his own campaign to catch him.

0:25:58 > 0:26:00I wanted to get as maximum exposure as possible.

0:26:00 > 0:26:04I knew this guy was local. I knew someone in the area must

0:26:04 > 0:26:06recognise him, must live near him, next to him or whatever.

0:26:06 > 0:26:10So I thought the best way of doing that is a social media site.

0:26:10 > 0:26:13I wrote a small paragraph about, you know, the description of the ladders.

0:26:13 > 0:26:16I said there was a small reward. I shared it out with my friends,

0:26:16 > 0:26:20they shared it out with their friends and it had great exposure.

0:26:20 > 0:26:23A few days go by and all that networking starts

0:26:23 > 0:26:25to close in on the thief.

0:26:25 > 0:26:28I had a random text message whilst working and it's just said,

0:26:28 > 0:26:29"Hi, there. You don't know who I am.

0:26:29 > 0:26:32"Please can you give me a description of your ladders,

0:26:32 > 0:26:34"as I think I might know where they are?"

0:26:34 > 0:26:37Barrie replies to the anonymous texter with a description.

0:26:37 > 0:26:39Then, two days later...

0:26:39 > 0:26:42Another text message came to me, saying, "Hi, mate. It's me again.

0:26:42 > 0:26:44"I think I know where your ladders are.

0:26:44 > 0:26:46"You might want to go and check out

0:26:46 > 0:26:49"this address just up the road and go from there."

0:26:50 > 0:26:53The address is for a house a short distance away.

0:26:54 > 0:26:55The police go knocking

0:26:55 > 0:26:58and immediately know the tip-off is a good one.

0:26:58 > 0:27:04The guy came to the door wearing the same hooded sweatshirt,

0:27:04 > 0:27:06with the same big logo on the front of it.

0:27:06 > 0:27:09And, effectively, he just got arrested by the police.

0:27:09 > 0:27:12They found the ladders on the property and he was, yeah,

0:27:12 > 0:27:13taken to the police station.

0:27:17 > 0:27:20Turns out that Barrie's quite right in thinking that this man

0:27:20 > 0:27:22is no career criminal.

0:27:22 > 0:27:25He has no previous convictions and it seems his attempt

0:27:25 > 0:27:26at pinching the ladder

0:27:26 > 0:27:29was his first rung on the...er...criminal ladder.

0:27:33 > 0:27:35But hopefully Barrie and the police have soon

0:27:35 > 0:27:37brought him back down to earth.

0:27:39 > 0:27:42After his arrest, he was let off with a strong warning.

0:27:42 > 0:27:45It is a deterrent, so he's had a slap on the wrists and been told not

0:27:45 > 0:27:48to do it again and it's probably put the frighteners on him a little bit.

0:27:48 > 0:27:51If he's caught doing anything like this again,

0:27:51 > 0:27:52there will be a conviction.

0:27:54 > 0:27:58Barrie's anonymous informant is also happy with the result.

0:27:58 > 0:28:01I actually offered him the reward and he basically turned it down.

0:28:01 > 0:28:02He said, "No, I don't want it.

0:28:02 > 0:28:05"I'm just pleased that, you know, you got your equipment back.

0:28:05 > 0:28:07"I'm pleased that someone's been caught for it

0:28:07 > 0:28:09"and it's the end of the situation, really."

0:28:13 > 0:28:17Join us next time, when the police and the public use tricks

0:28:17 > 0:28:19and technology to catch crooks red-handed.

0:28:26 > 0:28:29Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd