0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15police and other agencies are using new tactics
0:00:15 > 0:00:18and technology where the bad guys get caught in the act.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Brilliant footage. Police officers love CCTV.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Local councils, shops and businesses are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29As soon as he walked into the picture, I knew who he was.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30And the general public too
0:00:30 > 0:00:33can help unsuspecting crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34We definitely needed proof.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37You're not going to get away with it. You might as well just pack up.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It made me swell up with pride, it was brilliant.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43So, anyone who's up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46They might just get caught red-handed.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Today, when teenage tomfoolery turns to terror,
0:00:57 > 0:01:01a husband and wife come under attack in their own home.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05And I was absolutely terrified.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09I watched it and I was appalled. Completely appalled.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17And at a children's indoor playground, some big bad boys
0:01:17 > 0:01:19haven't come to play games.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It was all a whirlwind. My heart just sank,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25I felt sick, I felt completely violated.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And in a Lancaster nightclub,
0:01:31 > 0:01:36an uninvited guest helps himself at the bar, then bottles it.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Romney Marsh in Kent.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53This area is well known for its beautiful countryside,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56historic heritage and wildlife.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02It's where many people go to retire, relax and enjoy the sea air.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10But the elderly couple who live here have their dream of a peaceful life
0:02:10 > 0:02:12rudely shattered...
0:02:14 > 0:02:16..when youths gather outside their property
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and systematically torment them.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26My wife was crying her eyes out on the bottom of the stairs.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Bill has said it's the worst noise and experience he's had
0:02:31 > 0:02:32since the War.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38Hidden police cameras capture the bad behaviour, not just once
0:02:38 > 0:02:41but night, after night, after night.
0:02:50 > 0:02:5380-year-old Bill and his wife worked and lived in London.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56But when they retired, they made a few changes.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01My father was a bit of a philosopher when he wanted to be.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03And, when he retired, he said,
0:03:03 > 0:03:08"Son, I have retired from work, not from life."
0:03:08 > 0:03:10That's what retirement's all about -
0:03:10 > 0:03:12doing what you want to do, when you want to do it...
0:03:14 > 0:03:15..and making the best of it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18And what they wanted to do was to get away from the city
0:03:18 > 0:03:20for a change of pace.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24We decided to downsize, go into the country.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29And we'd been coming down to this area, ooh, since
0:03:29 > 0:03:31almost time began.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34They settled in a small town in the Romney Marshes
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and fell in love with this picture-perfect cottage.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39It's Grade II listed.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44It means that we've got to keep the external as original
0:03:44 > 0:03:46wherever possible.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Mandy Kimpton is also a newcomer to the area.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52She works as a Police Community Support Officer
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and knows most of the people in the neighbourhood.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Bill and his wife could totally be your nan and grandad.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59They are just the nicest people.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Run the local museum, known very much in the community as well.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Bill is also known by some of the local teenagers.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10His house is near a square where they often gather.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The square has always been a meeting place for the children
0:04:14 > 0:04:18mainly because, of an evening, the square was well lit.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Generations have hung out in this same place.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I've spoken to many residents of this area where they've said,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27"Yeah, I used to hang around there with my can of pop
0:04:27 > 0:04:29"and a packet of crisps and meet my friends."
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Groups of teenagers can make a fair amount of noise
0:04:32 > 0:04:34but Bill and his wife have been tolerant
0:04:34 > 0:04:37and have a good relationship with them.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39We've all been kids ourselves.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44We've all got out of hand one time or another, so you..
0:04:46 > 0:04:48...you're not trying to be grumpy
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and you're not trying to be an old fuddy-duddy.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Bill and his wife, at that point, absolutely never used to call in.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57They weren't at all worried by people gathering outside
0:04:57 > 0:04:58near to where they lived.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03And Bill doesn't mind when a ball sometimes comes over his wall.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08We did our best to compromise by allowing the kids,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12if the ball came over in the garden, just to come in,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14collect the ball and shut the gate on the way out.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Went on very well like that.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20But then, the gang of teenagers gets older and bigger
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and so does the level of their noise and boisterous behaviour.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25They were being...
0:05:25 > 0:05:27a little more rowdy.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33Every now and again, a thump of a football on the door or the window
0:05:33 > 0:05:35frightens the life out of you.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Can you imagine being in your front room
0:05:37 > 0:05:39when your front door is your front room?
0:05:39 > 0:05:43So when that is being shook or hit,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46that is actually battering within inches of your life.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Trying to be, wherever possible, civil,
0:05:49 > 0:05:51most of the kids were quite civil.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Say, "Oh, sorry, governor," or, "Sorry, mate," you know.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56And they'd go off.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Then we had some new youths move into the area
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and I think the children were quite influenced by the new faces.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06So you kind of get that ringleader kind of gang style of behaviour,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and I think that was the turning point, really.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12A few deliberately aim their football at Bill's
0:06:12 > 0:06:17Grade II listed house, causing damage to the walls and roof.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21It got to the point where I was using the 101
0:06:21 > 0:06:25to the police very frequently.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Bill's repeated calls prompt action and the police designate the area
0:06:29 > 0:06:33as a dispersal zone, which gives them extra powers.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36We would look to make sure that there wasn't the congregation
0:06:36 > 0:06:38and to move people on
0:06:38 > 0:06:40that were congregating outside the address.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42We'd take children home,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44explain to their parents what they'd been doing, we'd...
0:06:44 > 0:06:46constantly be taking them home, saying,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48"Please, don't play here. You need to move on."
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Despite we were sending people away and we were focusing
0:06:52 > 0:06:56our resources on that specific area, it still wasn't enough.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59The antisocial behaviour gets increasingly intimidating
0:06:59 > 0:07:02until it becomes full-blown harassment.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Both of us were born before the Second World War,
0:07:06 > 0:07:11so we had a bit of stress in our youth.
0:07:11 > 0:07:17You just can't walk around without looking over your shoulder.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19You get to that stage...pff.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22You know, it's...
0:07:22 > 0:07:23it's difficult.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27The police change their tactics.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31The only way to stop the youths now is to bring charges.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33For that, they need evidence.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34They supply Bill with a logbook
0:07:34 > 0:07:37so he can write down the details of each incident.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39By keeping the log,
0:07:39 > 0:07:46it allowed some of the frustration to be put down on paper.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Any diary that is kept of events is vital
0:07:49 > 0:07:53to provide the court later a greater understanding of what's happened.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Mandy also arranges for the installation of some hidden
0:07:56 > 0:07:58CCTV cameras.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I was so pleased once I managed to get that authority.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03It meant so much to me.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06I wanted to gather this evidence to help sort out the couple's problems
0:08:06 > 0:08:09cos it was just so distressing for them.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13His diary entries can then later be tied in with CCTV
0:08:13 > 0:08:14and then it can be played in court.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18And a CCTV image is worth 1,000 words.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The cameras are left running for nearly a month,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29and this is just some of the harassment they witness.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It's 10 o'clock on a Saturday night
0:08:31 > 0:08:33and the group of youths are gathering.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38One of them cycles up to Bill's house and knocks on the window.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43A moment later, another youth goes over to hammer a bit louder.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47And goes to bang the door.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Then, others pick up the idea.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57They were riding their bikes round, banging on the doors and the window.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01And start using their bikes to make more of an impact.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04And I think somebody just thought,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07let's have a go at kicking the door in.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09These aren't young teens
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and they can hit the house with a lot of force.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18I could hear the wood of the door splitting under the impact
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and I'm wondering, what do I do...
0:09:22 > 0:09:24..if the door gets kicked in?
0:09:24 > 0:09:30I'm obliged to protect my property, I'm obliged to protect my wife...
0:09:30 > 0:09:33who, at the time, was crying her eyes out...
0:09:34 > 0:09:35..on the bottom of the stairs.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44And I was...I was absolutely terrified.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48But the house withstands the onslaught.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Even the windows survive having stones thrown at them.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56The group runs off a little later when the police arrive.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01But the next day, they are back again, trying to kick the door down.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06And they don't stop there.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09A few days later, they repeatedly target the house
0:10:09 > 0:10:12with a football, deliberately causing damage.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18The police collect the camera evidence.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20I'd been on rest days, and I came back in
0:10:20 > 0:10:22and the whole team in my police station were like,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25"You have to see this. You won't believe what evidence
0:10:25 > 0:10:27"we've gathered from the cameras."
0:10:27 > 0:10:29And I watched it and I was appalled.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Completely appalled as to what had happened.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36You can hear from a witness what they're experiencing,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39but it really brings it home to you when you see the images.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42They identify and arrest eight of the youths
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and immediately inform Bill and his wife.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47It was a great relief.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53The stress that we'd been suffering was reduced phenomenally.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59In court, seven pleaded guilty to harassment
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and one to a public order offence.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05They are given various sentences depending on their age
0:11:05 > 0:11:06and involvement.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10Conditional discharges, restraining orders, fines and referral orders.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14It's a short, sharp shock for them and their families.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I think it may have surprised them.
0:11:17 > 0:11:24I hope it did because, if they can correct their behaviour now,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27they will be a lot better off in future.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32The council have now taken action to make sure
0:11:32 > 0:11:35this kind of incident doesn't happen again.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's fantastic, there's now overt cameras being placed
0:11:38 > 0:11:41on the square, which will significantly reduce problems
0:11:41 > 0:11:43in the future.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46We still get young people gathering
0:11:46 > 0:11:48but nobody is going out their way to create trouble.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Thankfully, this type of sustained harassment is quite rare.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59However, we do need to keep an eye out, not just for ourselves
0:11:59 > 0:12:01but also our neighbours as well.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05But what exactly counts as harassment?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Harassment takes many forms.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09It's about creating alarm and distress
0:12:09 > 0:12:14and people feeling uncomfortable in their own homes, for example,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16where it may be that the simple things -
0:12:16 > 0:12:19people knocking on the door at different times of the night,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21your next-door neighbour might be putting their music on
0:12:21 > 0:12:25particularly loud, people... Sort of verbal abuse.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27There's a whole range of things that that covers.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Harassment doesn't always have to be face-to-face.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Nowadays, we do see problems being reported through social media.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Lots of young people are using social media.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Quite often we see bullying.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42It might just be the nature of the language that's being used
0:12:42 > 0:12:45or perhaps it's specific threats that are being made
0:12:45 > 0:12:47and we do take that extremely seriously.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50First instance, if you feel as if your quality-of-life
0:12:50 > 0:12:54is being affected by somebody else, ring us and we'll talk it through.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03A children's play centre needs to win a new
0:13:03 > 0:13:05and serious game...
0:13:05 > 0:13:07of beat the burglar.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08When I seen that footage,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11that's when I got excited and thought, "We're onto something."
0:13:12 > 0:13:15And this crook thinks he can hold his drink
0:13:15 > 0:13:18stuffing stolen bottles down his trousers.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22But he's picked the wrong day and the wrong bar.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33But first, someone who literally takes the biscuit.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42A word of advice for anyone planning to rent out a property -
0:13:42 > 0:13:46get a lettings agent who doesn't have a sweet tooth.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49This guy is showing a prospective tenant round a flat
0:13:49 > 0:13:52when he notices a specially attractive feature.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56As his client has a look around,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59the agent clearly has something more important on his mind.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02That something is just to the right
0:14:02 > 0:14:05of another special feature of this flat -
0:14:05 > 0:14:08a hidden camera that the owner has left running
0:14:08 > 0:14:10just to see if it works.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14The prospective tenant finishes his inspection and leaves the flat
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and the agent just can't hold out any longer.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19He nips back and picks up...
0:14:21 > 0:14:22..a chocolate bar.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Yes, this wally-Wonka's downfall is his sweet tooth.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33He snaffles the choccie treat and takes it to a galaxy far, far away.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35The owner showed the footage to the agent's boss,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38who promptly sacked him.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Having bitten off a bit more than he can chew,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43the chocoholic chap is now taking a break.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And no, it's not a KitKat.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57Unscrupulous thieves will target anywhere, even a play area,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00somewhere that exists to keep children cheerful
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and give their parents a break.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15A busy indoor play centre in the village of Mere Brow,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17near Southport, Lancashire.
0:15:18 > 0:15:19CHILDREN SQUEAL
0:15:19 > 0:15:22This happy place was set up as a family business
0:15:22 > 0:15:26for children to come and experience a world of fun.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27CHILDREN SHOUT
0:15:29 > 0:15:32But no sooner is the centre up and running, an out-of-hours visit
0:15:32 > 0:15:37from a gang of burglars wipes the smile off everyone's face.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40The sound of fun and laughter is replaced by the sound
0:15:40 > 0:15:43of a sledgehammer smashing glass.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45And it was, it was just heartbreaking.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49We'd put our life and soul into getting Jollie's Barn up and running.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54The police will need help from the press and the public
0:15:54 > 0:15:57to catch the gang red-handed and put a stop to their game.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07CHILDREN LAUGH
0:16:10 > 0:16:11Sarah, a former teacher,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15and her husband had the idea to open an indoor play centre
0:16:15 > 0:16:16three years ago.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19I just thought it was something that was missing from the local community.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22An opportunity came up to rent this space
0:16:22 > 0:16:24and I had a change of career path
0:16:24 > 0:16:28and we just took a chance and went for it, really.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30They started from scratch,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and it took a lot of hard work to get the business off the ground.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37It's my life. I live, breathe, eat, sleep Jollie's Barn.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39The whole family does, to be honest.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42The centre is on the edge of Mere Brow village
0:16:42 > 0:16:46and a business park surrounded by farmers' fields.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I'm very fortunate. I've got some fantastic staff who are local.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52We're all extremely passionate about what it brings to the community.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57You wouldn't expect a place designed for children to have fun
0:16:57 > 0:17:00to become a target for criminals.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02But one Sunday afternoon,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Sarah gets a disturbing phone call at home from her father-in-law.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08He just said, "Sarah, there's been some bad news.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10"Jollie's Barn has been broken into.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14"I'm on my way." He only lives up the road. He literally picked me up.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15It was all a whirlwind.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19My heart just sank, I felt sick, I felt completely violated.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22I didn't know what I was expecting when I turned up here.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The centre had only just closed for the night.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27They arrived to find the front door smashed in
0:17:27 > 0:17:29and the police already there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35The safe, which contains nearly £3,000, is missing from the office.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Soon, a police forensic team arrive to check everywhere
0:17:38 > 0:17:40for fingerprints.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42PC Thomas Jay
0:17:42 > 0:17:47is one of the investigating team that visits Sarah the next day.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48Sarah was in pieces.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It was a new business trying to get things up and going.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53So it's building up that rapport with Sarah
0:17:53 > 0:17:57to try and make her feel...bit more reassured that the police
0:17:57 > 0:18:00are going to be something about it and, hopefully, catch the offender.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02No clues come from the forensic work
0:18:02 > 0:18:06but they do have footage from Sarah's CCTV system to look at.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07And this is what they see.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Only a moment after the last staff member has left,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17a dark car pulls up.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Two men get out while the driver waits in the car.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24One of them carries a heavy sledgehammer over to the door.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27He smashes the glass.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31The other man heads straight for the office.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36He's in there for just eight seconds before he comes out with the safe.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40The men drive off.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44But this footage gives the police a chance to identify the burglars,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47and they want it to be seen by as many people as possible.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49The decision was made on the spot, really.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52"Let's get this CCTV out to the general public to view."
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Sarah and her staff also used their social media skills
0:18:56 > 0:18:58to try and get the men identified.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I think, within about 10 minutes of actually getting the nod
0:19:02 > 0:19:08from the PC in charge, we were on loads of social media,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11front page of about five local papers.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13It was just amazing.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16The big push for information pays off the next day
0:19:16 > 0:19:19when PC Thomas Jay receives an anonymous tip-off.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21It was along the lines of,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25"I've definitely seen that vehicle in a DIY store in Liverpool.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28She said, as soon as she seen the vehicle on the footage, straightaway
0:19:28 > 0:19:32she recognised this being the same vehicle at this DIY store,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35where she then describes seeing two males carrying a sledgehammer
0:19:35 > 0:19:37and she described them as local scally lads.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43A DIY store is usually a good place to go for something concrete,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47and the video evidence they supply turns out to be just that.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49When I seen that footage, that's when I got excited and thought,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51"We're onto something."
0:19:51 > 0:19:54These pictures were recorded just an hour and a half
0:19:54 > 0:19:56before the break-in at the play centre.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00A dark vehicle with a missing hubcap approaches the store.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The car at the burglary also had a hubcap missing.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09As it parks, the numberplate is captured on camera.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Two men get out.
0:20:12 > 0:20:13They wander around
0:20:13 > 0:20:16before one goes towards the heavier demolition tools...
0:20:18 > 0:20:20..to choose a suitable sledgehammer.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26They don't try to steal the hammer. Like normal, law-abiding citizens,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28they pay up at the cash desk.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31To try and put names to their faces,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35PC Jay sends still images of them to all of his colleagues.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39That was circulated to local forces and we had quite a quick response
0:20:39 > 0:20:41to say they recognised the two people in the footage
0:20:41 > 0:20:44and we put a name to the two faces.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50They are eventually tracked down and arrested.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53PC Jay goes to interview them about the play centre burglary
0:20:53 > 0:20:55but they remain silent throughout.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59I wasn't frustrated, it's their right given to them.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Cos I knew we had the evidence, no matter what he said.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Although they questioned two men about the break-in
0:21:05 > 0:21:08at Jollie's Barn, only one was charged.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14In court, 24-year-old Adam Donohue
0:21:14 > 0:21:17is sentenced to five years and two months in prison
0:21:17 > 0:21:21for his part in the play centre burglary and other offences.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- CHILDREN SHOUT:- One, two, three!
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Sarah and her staff have now got over the bumpy start
0:21:31 > 0:21:32to their business.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37They're impressed by the efficient way the police tackled the crime.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42It couldn't have been written, it was just textbook from the word go
0:21:42 > 0:21:46of how they've basically caught them, and how the public responded.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Everybody was getting involved, offering suggestions,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51offering names of who they thought it was.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56To finally actually have full CCTV footage of this person
0:21:56 > 0:22:00in a local store, buying what they used to smash the window,
0:22:00 > 0:22:01was just brilliant.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07And at Jollie's, everything and everyone is jolly once again.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Now to a more grown-up type of play centre.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Nightclubs are often the target too, because the rich pickings
0:22:21 > 0:22:24of money and booze make them very tempting to thieves.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Lancaster, in the northwest of England.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32A man enters a nightclub.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35But if anyone's asking, he's not dancing.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Instead, he's here to steal money from a till,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42but he struggles to get it open.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Unfortunately for him,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46he's not come with the right tools for the job,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48so he has to go back to get them.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51But before he gets back,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54the owner and a friend have come to check on the premises.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I stood up and just said "Look, what are you doing here?"
0:22:58 > 0:23:00And then he just turned around and bolted for it.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02But the pair set off after him.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06They're determined to make this footloose thief face the music.
0:23:13 > 0:23:185ives, in Lancaster, is run by local entrepreneur Rob Dookie,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and it isn't the first nightclub he's managed.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24I've been working in this industry for about 23 years
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and this is our biggest project up to now.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31But recently, he has had some setbacks.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33We've had it for about six weeks and,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36over the course of the six weeks, we've had two break-ins.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Although the nightclubs take up all of Rob's time,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42they're not open every night of the week,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45which is something the last set of burglars took advantage of.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49A group of youths broke in through the fire exit,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51stole a TV and some alcohol.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Those hooded burglars weren't identified.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59A close colleague, also called Rob, helped clear up after that raid.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02It was just a kind of a...a bit of a worrying thing, you know,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05seeing my friend's business being broken into.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I think...yeah, it's just a bit out of order.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10You know, he works hard for what he's got.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15But, incredibly, just two weeks later, it happens all over again.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19And it's not a case of Saturday night fever.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24It's a Tuesday afternoon when a fire door opens and a man appears.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28This bad lad's not here to boogie, he wants to get boozy.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Heading behind the bar,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34he gets a bottle of drink and stuffs it down his trouser leg.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37But this bitter bootlegging is not enough for him.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41He finds what he's really looking for - a cocktail of keys,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44but will one of them open the till?
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Well, it's not that one.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48And it's not that one either.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52With all that hard work, he pauses for refreshment,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56and this drink goes straight to his legs too.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00He leaves, clinking as he goes to get more tools to bust open
0:25:00 > 0:25:01the till.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And it's then that Rob arrives to complete some paperwork.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09As I'm driving up to my car parking space,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I've looked to the left, I've noticed the door's open.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I've gone inside and done a search of the building.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19The door's not only open, it's damaged
0:25:19 > 0:25:20and he films it on his mobile phone.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It looked to me that he'd used a crowbar.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25There's a lot of strength to break that door open.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26I was looking around.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28I was conscious somebody might be in the building.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30I kind of was prepared for somebody to jump out on me,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32whether it was one or two people.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36At the time, I was very nervous, but adrenaline takes over.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39And I've called a colleague to come over and help me fix the door.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41His friend arrives.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43While he's waiting for Rob to come back,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46he hears a noise and finds they have a visitor.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51I heard a scuffling and I went to question him.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I stood up and just said, "Look, what are you doing here?"
0:25:54 > 0:25:57And then I've come from the bar into here.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00The guy has got literally here, he's literally stood here
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and he's looked at us both and gone, "Is this a club?"
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Now, at that stage, we just said to him, "Can we help you, mate?"
0:26:05 > 0:26:08He's just turned around, hood's gone on his head and we followed him.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Then he starts running, so we run after him.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14He's leapt the stairs, and then he runs down there and we follow him
0:26:14 > 0:26:16all the way down there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20The two friends pursue the intruder.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23We knew that if the guy had got away,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25probably, the chances of the police catching him
0:26:25 > 0:26:27would have been very slim.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Rob's racing through the streets.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31I'm a very fast runner.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34So I would have been belting it.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36But I wasn't dressed for running at the time.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Just as they all begin to tire, Rob notices staff
0:26:39 > 0:26:41from a neighbouring store having a chat
0:26:41 > 0:26:43and shouts to let them know what's happening.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47"Stop, help! I'm getting tired," something along them lines.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I think it was obvious that he was a thief by that stage -
0:26:49 > 0:26:52had me running around after somebody in a suit
0:26:52 > 0:26:54and this guy running around with rucksacks, bolt cutters,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56all sorts, hanging out and dropping from his pockets
0:26:56 > 0:26:59- all over the road.- Two of the store staff join the chase
0:26:59 > 0:27:01and the burglar runs out of steam.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I've run down the steps and then literally got into the road
0:27:04 > 0:27:05and just jumped on him by this stage.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08And just all of us overpowered him and then we was that tired
0:27:08 > 0:27:12that it was easier just to sit on him and call the police.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14The police take over from the citizen's arrest.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Police officer immediately recognised the guy.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19And he just said, "Nice to see you again, fella.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22"We've been looking for you." And then handcuffed...
0:27:22 > 0:27:24then handcuffs him straightaway.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27As well as the video evidence of the burglar's fancy footwork
0:27:27 > 0:27:32at the nightclub, the police find his fingerprints all over it.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Rob realises he almost came face-to-face
0:27:35 > 0:27:37with the man on his own.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40If I'd have turned up for work 15 minutes earlier,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I would have walked in on the guy in here
0:27:43 > 0:27:44and it could have been a different story.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52In court, the man pleaded guilty to three separate burglaries.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57One at a residential property, as well as the one at the nightclub,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59and is sentenced to 20 weeks in prison.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Rob's now hoping the spate of break-ins is over,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09and he's installed more cameras as a deterrent.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12But in case somebody else should turn up at the nightclub uninvited,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16he's making sure he'll be ready for another impromptu road race.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19It's not something I want to do without training.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21I'm back at the gym a lot at the moment now, though,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24so they can bring it on if they want to have another crack.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31That's it for today.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32Join us next time
0:28:32 > 0:28:35when the police and the public catch more criminals red-handed.