0:00:02 > 0:00:09Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables, just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour, police and other agencies are using new technology and tactics
0:00:15 > 0:00:22- when the bad guys are getting caught in the act.- I can see the man commit the robbery. Lovely. Thanks.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Local councils, shops and businesses are laying traps of their own.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Why should we feel frightened?
0:00:29 > 0:00:34And the general public, too, can help catch unsuspecting crooks.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37- No way are you getting away. - We did it for everyone.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42- We will name and shame you. - So they'd better think twice -
0:00:42 > 0:00:47they might just get caught red-handed.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56Today: a smartphone thief who's not so smart.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00His grab and his getaway are both caught on camera.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05The CCTV from the train was very good quality.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11Also today: the case of the window fitter and a little black bag.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- It was a horrible, sickening feeling. - I didn't want to look at him.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18A light-fingered tradesman feels the long arm of the law
0:01:18 > 0:01:24and a dishonest man nicks an honesty box in the wrong neighbourhood.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26We will name and shame you.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30But will they make an honest man out of him?
0:01:40 > 0:01:46It's late at night and three friends sharing their chips have just boarded this train.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52Look closely at the young man in the striped bobble hat. It's his birthday.
0:01:52 > 0:01:58And although he's with his mates, he chooses to go and stand away from them.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03The train pulls in to Seven Kings station in Essex
0:02:03 > 0:02:07and some passengers are ready to get off.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Behind the birthday boy, mostly obscured from this angle,
0:02:11 > 0:02:17is a young woman who has also been out celebrating. It's her birthday, too.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21And up until now she's had a great night out.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Suddenly, the man signals. He wants to leave.
0:02:28 > 0:02:34He snatches the woman's expensive smartphone and goes to leg it out of the station.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38He falls over at the bottom of the stairs.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41But he's soon back on his feet.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48Pursued by a passer-by, he races off and finally gets away.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Or so he thinks.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58That little trip on the stairs will prove to be his undoing
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and his own birthday is about to be ruined.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13The case lands on the desk of Detective Constable Gary Wildman of the British Transport Police.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17His first job is to speak to the victim.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22I took a statement from the young lady who'd been out celebrating.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27She's lost all her photographs, the phone. Phones are people's lives.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31She's lost everything and I felt for her.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36You become personally involved with every complainant/victim.
0:03:36 > 0:03:42When a smartphone's stolen, people lose treasured photos, memories, important contacts.
0:03:42 > 0:03:48And snatch thefts are common. Another young woman we met, Sophia, has had to save hard
0:03:48 > 0:03:52for this new phone. Her last one was snatched, too,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55also while she was travelling by train.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00These two young guys came up. They were in their 20s.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04I had an intuition that something... An eerie feeling about them.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09When I looked back, they left, so I continued doing my own thing.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13But they hadn't left. They were preparing to strike.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21One came from behind me and just snatched my phone.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27I was really, really in shock. I wanted to scream, but it just wouldn't come.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I was really in serious shock.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36It's a crime that only takes a split second to commit, but can affect the victim for months afterwards.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40It has really affected me. I got a new phone.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45If I'm on the train, I don't put it out. You feel you can't trust anyone.
0:04:45 > 0:04:51All of us can go around doing such things. What will the world be like if we do such things like that?
0:04:51 > 0:04:53It's just wrong, totally wrong.
0:04:53 > 0:05:00Unfortunately, Sophia's phone and the culprits who stole it are yet to be found.
0:05:00 > 0:05:07People, in general, that steal are opportunists. They'll go somewhere where it's easy. They're cowards.
0:05:07 > 0:05:14They pick on vulnerable people. Anybody who commits crime should actually do the time.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Back to the first phone snatch we saw at Seven Kings.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23Keen to find the thief, Gary puts in an order for the CCTV footage.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Two days later, it arrives.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32Over the years of doing investigation, you get breaks.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And the CCTV from the train was actually very good quality.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Fantastic facial. I can see the man commit the robbery.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46The thief uses a lot of force to get his hands on the phone.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50If he's caught, this could go against him.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56The victim was wearing earphones and as the phone was snatched, they didn't quite come out cleanly
0:05:56 > 0:05:58causing her pain and discomfort.
0:06:00 > 0:06:06Also, where he's grabbed the phone out of her hands, there's no breakages or anything,
0:06:06 > 0:06:12but you've got the use of violence and that puts it from the theft into the robbery bracket.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16As the robber leaves the train, the station cameras pick it up.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Our chap comes off the middle of the train.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25The camera just above us here will pick him up, but it's very dark.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30As he comes down, he's on this side here. He comes running up, full pelt,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and he's running so fast he loses his footing. He comes across,
0:06:34 > 0:06:40staggers and because of the speed he comes down and hits his head on these stairs.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45Picks himself up, continuing the run, and he exits to the left,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49across the main road, in-between some buildings.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56What interests Gary the most is the man's stumble.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02We've had a look afterwards and that is when we've seen our blood splatters up these stairs.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Hurrah! Thank you very much.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09The thief's fall might just be his downfall.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Hoping the blood isn't contaminated, after two days open to the elements,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Gary calls crime scene examiner Sergeant Philippa Smith.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24In an ideal world, it's always best for crime scene examiners to attend as soon as possible,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29which would lessen the problems with contamination.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35On the rail network, it's quite often not the best location. There's thousands of travellers every day
0:07:35 > 0:07:38where these crimes have happened.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42But luckily for Gary and unluckily for the tumbling robber,
0:07:42 > 0:07:47he's hit the stairs with enough speed to spray his blood around.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51He should have taken more care on a slippery night.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55He's hit his head, the blood has squirted out,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59and it's gone into this recess, protected by the lip on the steps.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05Even two days later when I come back, you can quite clearly see this blood splatter.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Philippa meets up with Gary at the station.
0:08:09 > 0:08:15I agreed with him that that was blood, so we agreed I'd take a set of images for him
0:08:15 > 0:08:17to help in the investigation.
0:08:17 > 0:08:23So if we need to do any further analysis, blood pattern analysis, we can do that.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29- I then carried out a presumptive blood test.- The first test is simply to confirm that it is blood
0:08:29 > 0:08:35- and not somebody's spilt chicken tikka masala.- This is the indicator stick and what we do is
0:08:35 > 0:08:39put a very small amount of sterile water onto the tip of the stick.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45I would then touch, very lightly, the end of this indicator stick with the sample.
0:08:45 > 0:08:51You can see there that it's indicated straight away. That indicates to me that it's blood there.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59More swabs are taken and then sent to a laboratory to extract DNA information,
0:08:59 > 0:09:05- but this process isn't always successful.- The blood's gone off and you don't hold your hopes out.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07You've got to be on the database.
0:09:07 > 0:09:15To find the blood's owner, its DNA can be matched up against people who have had dealings with the police.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20The National DNA Database currently holds over 6.5 million profiles
0:09:20 > 0:09:23from people who have come to the notice of the police in the past.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28It also currently holds over 500,000 profiles from crime scenes.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33And would you believe it? This crime doesn't appear to be a one-off for this robber.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36He's had a run-in with the police before.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41The fax came back with a smiley face. DNA hit. Lovely, thank you.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Great. Cos I've now got a name to the blood from the scene.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The thief is Narinder Singh. There is no address for him
0:09:51 > 0:09:57and he's put on the police wanted list and soon he is arrested at a shopping mall in Stratford.
0:09:57 > 0:10:04I walked into the custody suite of the police station where Mr Singh was being held on his arrest.
0:10:04 > 0:10:10And I just instantly recognised him from the pictures that I'd been dealing with.
0:10:10 > 0:10:16And it's quite strange. After my brain had actually said, "It's the same person,"
0:10:16 > 0:10:23- I noticed a nice little cut on his head.- The evidence against Mr Singh is indisputable,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27so he chooses not to dispute it and just says, "No comment."
0:10:27 > 0:10:33I've got DNA evidence. You can argue until the cows come home. That is you.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38I can see from the CCTV footage on the train, which is excellent.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43I'm sitting opposite you, I've got your DNA evidence. Where do you want to go with this?
0:10:45 > 0:10:51He has no choice but to plead guilty at court and gets 14 months in prison.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57It's a good result for Gary.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I mean, it's great. It's brilliant. That's my job.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05And after all these years I still enjoy it because that person has gone out there
0:11:05 > 0:11:10and taken someone's property that he's not entitled to.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20If you're planning on using your phone or MP3 player,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24don't sit by the doors. Don't make yourself an easy target.
0:11:24 > 0:11:30My advice to the public, whether you're using public transport or you're on the streets,
0:11:30 > 0:11:32is be aware of your surroundings.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37When you look at your smartphone, you're talking to your mates or listening to music.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42It's a very different perspective from a thief. All they see is cash.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48You wouldn't go to a bank and draw out £500 and wave it around on the train or in the street.
0:11:48 > 0:11:55Why do it with your smartphones? You hold it in the air, making people aware of what you've got.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00Coming up: a dishonest man snatches an honesty box.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Why should that one person spoil it?
0:12:02 > 0:12:07What he doesn't realise is that his every move is being watched.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13And a cappuccino to go, thank you. A man who's had his coffee beans stolen
0:12:13 > 0:12:17stirs up an internet campaign to catch the percolator... Sorry, perpetrator.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21And he does it with a sense of humour.
0:12:23 > 0:12:30But first a betrayal of trust by one of the very people supposed to make our homes more secure.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38This man here is a window fitter.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44He's just finished work on a house fixing the doors and windows.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49He's said his goodbyes to the owner who has trusted him to carry out work in her home.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52They both head off.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55But five minutes later, the fitter returns.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01He must have forgotten something. Maybe it's his equipment.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07But hang on... That doesn't look like one of his tools.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12- There's a horrible, sickening feeling.- I felt sick.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Watching the footage back, it was not nice. Not nice at all.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Next, the fitter carries out a black bag.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23In it is the homeowner's camera.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28This fitter who, moments ago, was exchanging pleasantries with the homeowner
0:13:28 > 0:13:31is now stealing from her.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38This house belongs to Mark and Susie.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42When they first moved in, they needed some building work done.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47They spent a lot of money with a double glazing company
0:13:47 > 0:13:51installing new doors and windows to make their house extra secure.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56A year later, it was clear the windows needed some adjusting,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00so they arranged for a window engineer from the same company.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02This is the doors he started on.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08And these are the doors we've always had a lot of trouble with, even now.
0:14:08 > 0:14:14So he adjusted a few bits. I said, "Do you want to come and have a look at the kitchen door?"
0:14:14 > 0:14:20So we spoke about the kitchen door. He said, "I don't need to touch that." I went, "No, that's right.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23"That's the only door that's fine and working."
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Susie has no reason not to trust the fitter.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33- She leaves him downstairs to get on with his work.- That morning, I hadn't made the bed.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I just wanted to go upstairs before he went into our bedroom.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41So I left him down here for a couple of minutes, sorting out the door.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44She only leaves him for two minutes.
0:14:44 > 0:14:50I stood and I spoke to him, apart from those two minutes that I left him.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- He seems friendly enough. - We were just chatting,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57like you do with people you trust.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00We learned in the morning that everything was locked.
0:15:00 > 0:15:06He'd had to open a couple of doors and the window upstairs. Susie checked those just to make sure...
0:15:06 > 0:15:13- But the ones that weren't touched, I didn't...- You didn't need to. - I didn't think I had to.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18So he'd actually physically unlocked the back door. He knew he was coming back.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22He went, then I went, and that was it, really.
0:15:22 > 0:15:29But as we now know, that's not the end of it, not for the engineer. He's back.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36And a few minutes later he emerges with a copper tank.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39He puts it in the van.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42It's obvious that he's not finished.
0:15:42 > 0:15:49Having sneaked into the house via the kitchen door, he wanders around to see what else he can find.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54He comes back out with a black bag, but that's not enough for him.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59As if realising he's pushing his luck, he now runs back inside.
0:15:59 > 0:16:05But he appears to be a bit more cautious this time, concealing items up his jumper.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Happy with his loot, he decides to call it a day and calmly leaves.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19We came back home and I came outside to have a cigarette.
0:16:19 > 0:16:25I normally put them into the copper cylinder tank that was left outside the back door.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28And I noticed, obviously, it was missing.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Luckily, though, Mark had recently invested in a CCTV kit.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35He goes and checks the footage.
0:16:36 > 0:16:42You can clearly see the front of the house. So I came in and had a look through all of this.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Watching the tape back, Mark has mixed emotions.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51Gutted to start with, but a feeling of, "Well, I've got you.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54"You're caught bang to rights."
0:16:54 > 0:16:59I couldn't wait to phone the police, but I was more sort of shaking with the horror
0:16:59 > 0:17:02that someone's been through our property.
0:17:02 > 0:17:09The thief has stolen more than possessions. He's also stolen memories.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14It's not until you start looking, you don't realise what had gone missing.
0:17:14 > 0:17:20Along with the tank, the engineer had taken money, binoculars, mobile phone, a laptop
0:17:20 > 0:17:23and cameras containing treasured holiday photos.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28The burglar's crime has an emotional effect on the whole family.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34The children, I think, were... I think that's the worst bit.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- How they were affected. - The eldest daughter did have dreams and things like that.
0:17:39 > 0:17:45Mark and Susie feel like they never want strangers in their home again.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48It's a big trust issue. It's gone.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Sadly, from one person that's destroyed that.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58We want to extend on the house, but I think I'd rather take a bricklaying course.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04In court, the window fitter admitted to the crime
0:18:04 > 0:18:08and was given an 18-month suspended sentence,
0:18:08 > 0:18:13200 hours unpaid work and an order to pay £100 in compensation.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19The thief tried to nab a camera, but it was a camera that nabbed him.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24I bought the CCTV as just a little gimmick, really.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28It was a gadget. I do like my gadgets.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34But now, looking back at it, I think it's the best money I've actually spent.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- It's the best gadget you've got. - Yeah, it is.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50We've all heard that saying, "You need eyes in the back of your head."
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Mark and Susie had the extra eyes of CCTV.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58When a suspect is presented with CCTV evidence,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01a guilty plea is more than likely.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05It's hard to dispute when they see themselves on camera.
0:19:05 > 0:19:12A guilty plea also means the case can be dealt with quickly, saving time and money for police and public
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and providing closure for the victim.
0:19:15 > 0:19:21These days, of course, we don't even have to be at home to keep an eye on our property.
0:19:21 > 0:19:28Like Tim Lake, who was sent some images on his smartphone that gave him the chance to have some fun.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37This attractive property belongs to 29-year-old Tim.
0:19:38 > 0:19:44He's out at work when a smart security system he's installed sends him images
0:19:44 > 0:19:50of a woman approaching his front door. At first glance, she looks like a neighbour,
0:19:50 > 0:19:58but instead of knocking, she bends down, picks something up, then flip-flops away with a package.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04Tim is outraged. You see, he's especially partial to a certain type of coffee
0:20:04 > 0:20:11and so it appears is this woman. She's pinched the package of coffee he gets delivered by mail order.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15When he calms down, Tim comes up with a cunning campaign.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20Using pictures from his CCTV he creates a poster.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24He sticks it up all around his neighbourhood and on the internet.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29If you look closely, you can see that Tim has a sense of humour.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Description of perpetrator: Jerk.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Distinguishing Marks: Shameful and super awkward running style.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Yep. I'm not sure she'd win an Olympic medal.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44And who'd have thought a little coffee could cause such a splash?
0:20:44 > 0:20:50Because the poster goes viral. Tim even ends up on television news.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55Hearing about it, the coffee company kindly sends a replacement package.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57The thief is still at large.
0:20:57 > 0:21:03Tim's hoping someone just might recognise her and spill the beans.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15On Caught Red-Handed, we're seeing how members of the public can catch their own crooks
0:21:15 > 0:21:21using these user-friendly little cameras and that's just what happens next when an opportunist thief
0:21:21 > 0:21:25helps himself to a drink and a bit more besides.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36The Gower Peninsula in South Wales is renowned for its stunning countryside and beautiful beaches.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's a popular spot with tourists.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- Kids, do you want ice cream? - Yeah!
0:21:42 > 0:21:46There's lots of passing trade for local people
0:21:46 > 0:21:51who set up roadside stalls selling things like fruit, veg, even ice creams to visitors.
0:21:51 > 0:21:57- These look lovely. - It's a great arrangement. Tourists like the local produce
0:21:57 > 0:22:03and the locals make some extra cash, trusting strangers to leave the money in the honesty boxes
0:22:03 > 0:22:09they leave out by the side of the road. Unfortunately, whilst most visitors come to the Gower
0:22:09 > 0:22:13for some good, honest fun, some aren't quite so honest.
0:22:13 > 0:22:20On a sunny summer evening, a car slowly travels down a quiet country road,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24then turns around and drives back slowly.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28The car stops by this roadside stall, which has a fridge.
0:22:28 > 0:22:35The man gets out of the passenger side. He opens the fridge and helps himself to some cans of drink.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40The driver keeps the engine running. Is this man going to pay? No way.
0:22:40 > 0:22:46What's more, he takes a shifty look around and then steals the trust box full of money
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and makes a sharp getaway.
0:22:49 > 0:22:56The box, the money and the stolen drinks belonged to local resident Mark Button.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01My initial thoughts were disgusted by somebody taking that.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05It was premeditated and they came purposely to rob from me.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14Mark has lived in the hamlet of Pitton his whole life.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19His family have farmed here for generations. He's a photographer now,
0:23:19 > 0:23:24but keeps his hands on the land by growing veg. He had the perfect idea to shift the surplus.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30About three years ago I put the trust box into place, selling the excess produce I grow.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The kids came off the beach
0:23:33 > 0:23:36wanting water, so I put some drinks in the fridge
0:23:36 > 0:23:41and ice cream from a local producer in Swansea. Kids seem to love it.
0:23:41 > 0:23:47People came away with a smile. As I walk past people eating ice cream, happy days, enjoy it.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It works really well.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52But they're not all happy days.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58The theft of his honesty box is not the first time Mark's had a problem with unwelcome visitors.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02About a year ago, we had a major burglary here
0:24:02 > 0:24:07of which two of the farm sheds were broken into. The day after, it got broken into again.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12So I bought alarm systems and I bought a CCTV system.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And it's those same cameras, already set up from the last time,
0:24:16 > 0:24:21that catch Mark's latest roadside raider red-handed.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25From monitors set up in his house, he can look through the footage.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29He goes into the fridge, taking a few drinks,
0:24:29 > 0:24:34and then looked inside the money box, grabbed it, ran back, jumped in
0:24:34 > 0:24:38and the car sped off with the door open. Like a big heist!
0:24:38 > 0:24:44It turns out, frustratingly, that Mark only narrowly misses catching the thieves in the act.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49Just 30 seconds after the robbery, he'd popped out to check the fridge.
0:24:49 > 0:24:55As I walked back, I looked at the fridge and noticed the trust box had gone.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Unfortunately, it turns out not to be the only honesty box that's gone missing.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05Further up the lane, a neighbour, James, sells home-made jam and Eccles cakes.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10Like Mark, he leaves out a trust box. Like Mark, he found it'd gone.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16We think ours went the same time. That's when we noticed it had gone.
0:25:16 > 0:25:22Obviously, putting two and two together, we think it's more than likely the same guys
0:25:22 > 0:25:24have taken the two pots.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30No, it's happened twice now in the last three weeks that the honest box has gone.
0:25:30 > 0:25:37The amount of money taken may be small, but the criminals didn't know the bigger picture.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Claire has cerebral palsy. They are trying to raise money for treatment.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46I'm using the money because we want to take her to America for an operation
0:25:46 > 0:25:50to hopefully cure her cerebral palsy.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54We're on our way to try to make £45,000 for the operation.
0:25:54 > 0:26:00Back down the road, Mark isn't prepared to let the culprits get away with it.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05- He decides to harness the power of the internet.- My first thought was social media.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10Within 24 hours, the friend requests started coming in.
0:26:10 > 0:26:17Over 1,000 people responded to me. Even somebody in Australia sent me an email saying it was over there.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So that was overwhelming and within 24 hours.
0:26:20 > 0:26:25As interest grew online, it seems the pressure mounted on the thief.
0:26:25 > 0:26:31A week after it happened, the gentleman... I shouldn't say gentleman. Perpetrator.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34..has handed himself in.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39And that does show the power of media, the power of people.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Yes, maybe some honesty rubbed off from the honesty box
0:26:44 > 0:26:49because just a few days after the dirty deed, the man actually hands himself in.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54He has to pay compensation
0:26:54 > 0:26:58and is given six months community service.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04Since then, both Mark and his neighbour James have had no more thefts,
0:27:04 > 0:27:08and they are determined not to stop trusting people.
0:27:08 > 0:27:16Why should somebody spoil it for everybody else and put a sour feeling in people's hearts?
0:27:23 > 0:27:27An opportunist thief will take the chance wherever they see it,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31as long as they don't think they're being watched.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36A sign as simple as "CCTV" might just be enough to put them off.
0:27:36 > 0:27:42And Mark has a message for anyone thinking of coming to the Gower Peninsula with dishonest intent,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46which with so many CCTV-savvy people around nowadays,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50is perhaps a message for all would-be criminals out there.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55If we do catch you, if we do see you, we will name and shame you.
0:27:55 > 0:28:02That's all for now. Join us next time when the police and public catch more crooks red-handed.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd