0:00:02 > 0:00:05'Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables -
0:00:05 > 0:00:09'just about anything they can get their hands on.'
0:00:09 > 0:00:12To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the police and other agencies are using new tactics
0:00:15 > 0:00:19and technology where the bad guys actually get caught in the act.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Brilliant footage. Police officers love CCTV.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24'Local councils, shops and businesses
0:00:24 > 0:00:26'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 > 0:00:32'And the general public too can help unsuspecting crooks
0:00:32 > 0:00:33'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 > 0:00:40It made them swallow their pride, it was brilliant.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43'So, anyone who's up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'They might just get caught red handed.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:56'Today, a hooded mugger draws a gun on a young student,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59'something you don't expect to see on a British street.'
0:00:59 > 0:01:00He was aggressive.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03He pointed the gun towards my stomach.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06'But something the attacker doesn't expect,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09'the courageous student stands up for himself.'
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'Also today, arson in a tower block.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15'It's the scene of over 100 fires.'
0:01:15 > 0:01:16Dangerous, crazy,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19can't put into words how much it put people in danger.
0:01:19 > 0:01:20'But who's setting the fires?
0:01:20 > 0:01:25'The residents and police are hot on the trail of the culprits.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29'And these fly tippers dumping sofas think they've got away with it,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32'but they're furnishing the council with evidence,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35'as hidden eyes are watching their every move.'
0:01:43 > 0:01:47'The streets of Manchester, near the university.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50'It's the early hours of Saturday morning,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54'and a student is walking home after a night out with friends.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59'A man brushes past him on a bicycle.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01'But this is no innocent cyclist.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05'He's about to put the student through a terrifying ordeal -
0:02:05 > 0:02:07'a robbery at gunpoint.'
0:02:09 > 0:02:12'The gun is actually a detailed replica,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15'but to the student, it looks very real.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:17He was aggressive, saying, "Give me what you've got,"
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and "I'm going to shoot you."
0:02:19 > 0:02:20'He was quietly walking home,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24'but now this student is suddenly in fear of his life.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26'But he bravely starts to put up a fight.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30'It looks like a fight he can never win, but though the student
0:02:30 > 0:02:33'doesn't know it, he is not completely on his own.'
0:02:33 > 0:02:36The only thing that kept going through my mind was,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38"I hope somebody'd do it for my daughter or son
0:02:38 > 0:02:39"if that was happening to them."
0:02:39 > 0:02:42'It's a race against time to stop the attacker.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54'Manchester is a big student city.
0:02:54 > 0:03:00'Nearly a sixth of the population study at its two universities.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04'Both unis are on PC Richard Beckinsale's patch,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08'and he knows how students, out on the streets of a strange city
0:03:08 > 0:03:10'carrying phones, computers and cash,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13'can often be a target for criminals.'
0:03:13 > 0:03:16There is a little bit of naivete, students moving from different areas,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18have not experienced living in the big city before,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20they don't know what it's like,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22they don't know what the dangers are,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24especially late at night. Street robbery, phone snatches,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27that kind of thing. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people out there
0:03:27 > 0:03:29who are out to get you.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31'Dominic's a first year degree student here.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35'He doesn't want his face shown but would like to tell his story.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:39The place I'm from is quite small, so I wanted to come to a big city.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42My focus was just to come to university and study
0:03:42 > 0:03:46and enjoy myself, so I didn't think about crime.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48'And it's a shame he should have to.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51'After all, he's studying to become a mechanical engineer,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55'working to build a good life for himself in the future.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59'And so that Dominic doesn't have to focus on crime,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02'the university employs some people who do.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'There's a dedicated security team set up to protect students.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10'They sometimes work undercover, so we can't show THEIR faces either.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12'Alan is a supervisor.'
0:04:12 > 0:04:14There's a need for campus security
0:04:14 > 0:04:17because we are in the middle of a very busy city,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and it's surrounded by a lot of areas
0:04:19 > 0:04:23where a lot of people come in to commit crimes, basically.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25We have dozens and dozens of cameras
0:04:25 > 0:04:28covering a wide area of the university.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32We are the first point of contact for any problems anybody's got.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36'And one cold November night, Dominic has a problem,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40'a big problem that offers a threat to his life.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43'He's walking back home after a night out with friends.'
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I think it was ten to four in the morning.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48It's a road that I'd walk up numerous times in the day to
0:04:48 > 0:04:52get from university, and I'd had no concerns.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55'At this time of night, Alan in his control room
0:04:55 > 0:04:57'is always extra vigilant.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00'He's already noticed a man who's cycled into the area
0:05:00 > 0:05:02'and approached two students.'
0:05:02 > 0:05:04You're never sure, so we just kept watching him.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Obviously, his actions, the way he was chatting to the lads and that,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12there was just summat not right. So we just watched him.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15'Alan's suspicions increase when the two students leave
0:05:15 > 0:05:18'and the cyclist puts on gloves and a balaclava.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'As he goes to cycle off,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22'something catches his attention across the road.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26'It's Dominic walking home, listening to loud music.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28'The cyclist rides past.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33'It looks innocent enough, but really, he's checking Dominic out.'
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I had my earphones in and I was completely oblivious.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'But then the cyclist dumps his bike behind a cash machine.'
0:05:39 > 0:05:42This is when it started really getting suspicious,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44discarding his bicycle and coming out on the main road.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47'Alan alerts security officers on the ground
0:05:47 > 0:05:49'to go and take a closer look.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50'The man heads straight for Dominic,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54'but then things take a sudden and terrifying turn.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56The man pulls out a gun.'
0:05:57 > 0:05:58It took me by surprise.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02I only realised that the gun was pointed towards me
0:06:02 > 0:06:04when I felt it against my stomach.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Seconds later, when the firearm appeared, obviously, I had to
0:06:06 > 0:06:10immediately tell the lads that the situation had drastically got worse.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12You know, this could be a major, major situation here.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14'Alan also calls the police.'
0:06:14 > 0:06:16ALAN'S VOICE ON PHONE
0:06:18 > 0:06:20'He can only watch as the armed mugger
0:06:20 > 0:06:22'shouts his demands at Dominic.'
0:06:22 > 0:06:25He was aggressive, saying, "Give me what you've got,"
0:06:25 > 0:06:27and "I'm going to shoot you."
0:06:27 > 0:06:30You might expect Dominic to be numb with fear
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and to give an armed robber whatever he wants.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33But no.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Dominic actually faces up to the man instead.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I was angry, full of adrenaline.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42I told him that he couldn't have my phone.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46It would have taken away all my contact with family, friends.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48I just didn't want him to have it.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Then Dominic even tries to grab hold of the mugger's gun.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54His goal was to get something from me
0:06:54 > 0:06:57and I just wanted to come out unharmed
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and away with all my stuff, if that was possible.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02It was quite a quick reaction, to grab the gun
0:07:02 > 0:07:04and to just hold it to the floor.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I did try to pry the gun from him, but I couldn't get it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09I'm just sat here, hopeless, thinking,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11"This gun could go off at any time."
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I mean, it must have been terrifying for him with that gun.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15You can see it being waved around.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Remember, Dominic believes he's struggling with a gunman
0:07:18 > 0:07:20who could shoot any second.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24But he keeps a cool head. He has to find a way to escape.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26As we were fighting for a few minutes
0:07:26 > 0:07:28and he still hadn't shot me,
0:07:28 > 0:07:32I think I started to doubt if he was going to do it.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34He risks letting go of the gun.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38I told him he could have any money that was left in my wallet.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39I'd just been out on a night out
0:07:39 > 0:07:42and I knew that there wasn't much in there.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47As a member of the public walks by, oblivious to the situation,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Dominic sees an opportunity.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53He points to something behind his attacker.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54The gunman is distracted.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Dominic punches him
0:07:58 > 0:08:00and runs away as fast as he can.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04The robber doesn't give chase or fire his weapon.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I didn't want to run off without distracting him further.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I wanted to give myself a good chance to get away from him.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14So...the first time I've ever hit someone was to hit him,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18but I thought it was suitable in order to get away.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Dominic's managed to find a way to escape,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24but for Alan and his security team, and the police,
0:08:24 > 0:08:29a potentially dangerous gunman is still on the loose.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Later - the university security team face the gunman.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36You don't want anyone to get hurt, to get shot or anything,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40but the experience kicks in, you just deal with things as best you can.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43But there's an astonishing twist
0:08:43 > 0:08:46when the mugger claims that HE was the one who was attacked first.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- ON TAPE:- 'Look at him, look what he's doing.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52'He's grabbing hold of me. He was overpowering me.'
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Dominic's ordeal is, of course, very rare.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Gun crime in the UK, even with replicas, is at a low.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06But we can all find ourselves out and about
0:09:06 > 0:09:09in an area we don't know too well.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12So, what can we do to keep ourselves safe?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14It's really important to stay alert.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16A confident person who has a purpose
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and knows where they're going is far less likely to be a victim
0:09:20 > 0:09:22than, maybe, somebody who has headphones
0:09:22 > 0:09:24and is lost in the moment or lost in that music.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27If you're approached by someone threatening you,
0:09:27 > 0:09:28it's really important
0:09:28 > 0:09:31that you draw attention to yourself.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Make as much noise as possible and call for help
0:09:33 > 0:09:37and then, as soon as possible, call 999.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Some people are really brave and confront their attackers.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But actually, that's not always the best option
0:09:43 > 0:09:46and it's not worth them taking your life
0:09:46 > 0:09:49for you trying to intervene, to protect your property.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Coming up - mystery arson attacks at a tower block
0:09:57 > 0:10:00and the residents feel they're under siege.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02As soon as you heard the sirens, you knew exactly -
0:10:02 > 0:10:05"That's the fire brigade. They're coming here again."
0:10:05 > 0:10:10But who's doing it? Is it one of their 250 neighbours?
0:10:10 > 0:10:13And here's a new one - a skateboarding shoplifter.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16He grabs a TV, glides past security,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19but has to pull off a speedy 180 turn
0:10:19 > 0:10:22when he can't find his way out of the store.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32But first, we're in Stoke-on-Trent.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35This neighbourhood has been driven potty
0:10:35 > 0:10:37by persistent fly-tipping.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40The council have installed some well-placed hidden cameras
0:10:40 > 0:10:42to try and stop it.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45It's Sunday lunchtime, and while most people are at home,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47relaxing on the couch,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51this couple are about to dump THEIR couch illegally.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54But before they do, they notice a man nearby
0:10:54 > 0:10:57who's also shifting something heavy.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00While his girlfriend adopts an "am I bothered?" pose,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02our man with a van has a plan.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06He's worried about being spotted, so he wanders down the alley
0:11:06 > 0:11:08to have a quick word with the other man -
0:11:08 > 0:11:10perhaps to compare lifting techniques,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12but most likely to find out
0:11:12 > 0:11:15if the man suspects any dodgy goings-on.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Once he knows that no-one's paying attention,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Van Man returns and signals to his girlfriend
0:11:21 > 0:11:23to start offloading.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26They make quick work of dumping two sofas
0:11:26 > 0:11:29before getting back in the cab and driving off.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33But if they thought it was a case of "sofa, so good",
0:11:33 > 0:11:36the dumping duo are sorely mistaken.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39The council's "eye on the fly"
0:11:39 > 0:11:42has recorded their vehicle's registration.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Found guilty of fly-tipping, they are each fined
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and ordered to pay costs.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Hope they were sitting comfortably when they got the bad news.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Criminal activity thrives on the fact
0:11:56 > 0:11:59that no-one can keep a lookout 24 hours a day
0:11:59 > 0:12:03and they know that only too well at a tower block in Lincolnshire
0:12:03 > 0:12:05that's been coming under repeated attack.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15A mysterious whodunnit at a tower block in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Fires keep breaking out - over 150 blazes so far.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23- AUTOMATED VOICE:- Doors closing...
0:12:23 > 0:12:27It's arson and the residents have no idea who's starting the fires.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30They've been at their wit's end.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31It was really a nightmare.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33You couldn't sleep at night.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34You were always worried.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39But who can be the culprit...or culprits?
0:12:39 > 0:12:41The selfishness of their own gratification,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44whatever that can be, to put others in such danger.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48The police, fire service, housing charity and residents
0:12:48 > 0:12:51are all becoming desperate to solve the mystery.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Sutton House is owned by a charity called North Lincolnshire Homes.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04It is a high-rise building.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08We have 19 floors. Each floor has four flats
0:13:08 > 0:13:09on a communal landing
0:13:09 > 0:13:12and we can have up 280 residents.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Hiya, Mari, how you doing?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Residents are looked after by a caretaker service.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Mari works from an office on the ground floor.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Quite a variety of residents, really -
0:13:23 > 0:13:26all ages, different backgrounds.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30We've got some vulnerable tenants in here, some elderly tenants.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Just keep an eye on them all.
0:13:31 > 0:13:3519 floors is a long way to have to go down
0:13:35 > 0:13:37when you need to put the rubbish out
0:13:37 > 0:13:40so they solve the problem by having a handy rubbish chute
0:13:40 > 0:13:41on each landing.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44They would dispose of their rubbish through the chute.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45That would fall down to the bottom.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49At the bottom, it would be collected and emptied by the caretakers.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51When fires start to break out in the basement,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54the police realise that the chutes are involved.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58We had a spate of, maybe over a month,
0:13:58 > 0:13:59maybe ten fires.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02And then they stopped for a short period
0:14:02 > 0:14:05and then they started and we had something like ten again.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06And it just repeated.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Whoever is setting the fires
0:14:08 > 0:14:10is lighting paper on one of the landings
0:14:10 > 0:14:14then dropping it down the chute to ignite the rubbish in the basement.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18It automatically sets alarms off at ungodly hours in the morning.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20We've got the fire brigade turning up.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22You've got them running up and down the stairs,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25so it disturbs just about everybody and frightens a lot of people.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28These repeated blazes become a torment
0:14:28 > 0:14:30for everybody in the building.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33As soon as you heard the sirens, you knew exactly -
0:14:33 > 0:14:35"That's the fire brigade. They're coming here, again."
0:14:36 > 0:14:38And then you would just hope and pray
0:14:38 > 0:14:41that nothing has... No damage has been done.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Just the smell of smoke - and it does travel up, unfortunately -
0:14:45 > 0:14:48is enough to frighten people.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Thankfully, Sutton House is solidly built.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55The actual chute is actually so thick in concrete and stuff,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58it would have to be some explosion for it to really cause any damage.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00The arson was fairly low-risk,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02but still, there was always the possibility
0:15:02 > 0:15:03of that risk escalating
0:15:03 > 0:15:06and, obviously, the concern for people's safety
0:15:06 > 0:15:07was uppermost for us.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11It's uppermost for police, too.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Richard Higgins was working as a police sergeant
0:15:14 > 0:15:16when the fires first started.
0:15:16 > 0:15:17It soon became clear to him
0:15:17 > 0:15:20that it was going to be a tricky case to solve.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22If you look at the block of flats,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25it's a vertical street, but it's not like a street,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28because on a street, people have front doors
0:15:28 > 0:15:30and they've generally got four windows.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34So there's opportunities, every time somebody comes past,
0:15:34 > 0:15:35for somebody to see them,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39whereas in the flats, there's no way of looking out onto the landing,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43so the chances of people being seen is cut right down.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45With no witnesses to the crimes,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Richard's team try using some hidden cameras
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and they get what looks like a breakthrough.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53We did catch somebody committing arsons,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55who admitted to three arsons
0:15:55 > 0:15:58and he wasn't a resident of the flats,
0:15:58 > 0:15:59he was visiting somebody.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04That man is convicted and stops visiting the area. But...
0:16:04 > 0:16:08The arsons continued, so he may have set some fires,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11but he wasn't THE arsonist.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Whoever the arsonist is, they seem to be alert to any moves
0:16:15 > 0:16:18made by the authorities or the residents
0:16:18 > 0:16:20and stays one step ahead.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Doesn't take people long to work out,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24"There's something going on, I'll behave myself."
0:16:24 > 0:16:27The police, fire service and housing charity
0:16:27 > 0:16:29pool their resources together.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32They make flat-to-flat enquiries, interview residents,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34give awareness talks.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37But whenever the chase hots up, the fires stop
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and the trail goes cold again.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Several people may be responsible,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44but...you just couldn't pin it down.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46It's proving it, cos everybody is getting frustrated
0:16:46 > 0:16:49cos you've got to nail it, you've got to get it right.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52We did feel like we were having a game of cat and mouse,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54but we knew that ultimately, in the end,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57the arsonist would either slip up or we would catch them.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59The next step, really, was getting the CCTV in.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03The charity that owns the tower block,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06North Lincolnshire Homes, raises enough to invest
0:17:06 > 0:17:09in some sophisticated surveillance technology.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12This is our CCTV system.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14All 19 floors have got at least two cameras on,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17lifts have got cameras on,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19outsides have cameras - back, front doors.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Every angle is covered.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23We did rather hope it would come in useful,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26but in actual fact, it put a stop to it for a while.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It was clear that if he or she wanted to continue
0:17:29 > 0:17:31committing arsons,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33then they would have to go out on the street.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36A little time later, Mari gets to work
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and hears some all-too-familiar news.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I came on duty one day to be told we'd had a bin fire.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I just assumed it was another bin chute fire,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49and cos the CCTV was reasonably new,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52I was one of the few that knew how to work it
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and I just happened to click on at the right time
0:17:54 > 0:17:56to find an outside bin set fire to.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Mari rewinds the footage to see who's responsible.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01As soon as he walked into the picture,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03I knew who he was.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It's just getting light, at 4:34 in the morning.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12A male resident called Peter Dixon
0:18:12 > 0:18:15saunters across to an industrial bin.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21He spends the next minute leaning over the side of it.
0:18:22 > 0:18:23Then he wanders off.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Two minutes later, flames appear.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32And then the fire really gets going.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Mari knows she's looking at some red-hot evidence.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40I must admit, I was right chuffed,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44cos I thought, "Yes! We've finally got somebody for this."
0:18:44 > 0:18:48And I just managed to trace him all the way back to his property,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50so we knew exactly who it was.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Put times to it and everything.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55I was just...buzzing.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01News of the breakthrough reaches Richard at the police station.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03I was over the moon and he was arrested
0:19:03 > 0:19:05and brought to the police station
0:19:05 > 0:19:08at which point...he wasn't as happy as I was.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11He was sick that he'd actually been beaten.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17It appears that Dixon had failed to see one of the cameras
0:19:17 > 0:19:19that overlooks the bin.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21That's the camera that the gentleman spotted,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23pointing a totally different way.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25This is actually the camera we caught him on,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28which points directly to the bins that we've got there
0:19:28 > 0:19:30that he set fire to.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Why he lit the fires remains a mystery.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34I don't know whether
0:19:34 > 0:19:37he had a fascination with fire engines, or...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40..the sheer thrill of lighting fires.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I'm not sure why he did it, really.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Getting inside somebody's head like that, it's...don't know.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49The selfishness of people, for their own gratification,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53whatever that can be, to put others in such danger
0:19:53 > 0:19:56just for a bit of excitement,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58it's just completely wrong.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01In court, the judge agrees.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09For that one bin fire, Dixon is sentenced to three years in prison.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14There is no evidence that links him to all the other fires.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16We can't say that this person was responsible
0:20:16 > 0:20:18for the 160 fires in there,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21but since he's been on remand and sentenced,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23those fires have stopped.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27It may be that the conviction acted as a deterrent to others,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29but whoever was responsible,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32life is back to normal at Sutton House.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33The residents are much happier now.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36They're now enjoying the amount of investment we've put into the area
0:20:36 > 0:20:42and we've...we've been really happy with the result.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Since the arsons have stopped, it is so much more relaxing
0:20:45 > 0:20:48and you feel a lot safer now.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Mari's happy the cameras did their job.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Absolutely pleased as punch that it paid off for us.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58You know, the expense of having all this equipment in,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00although it weren't just for that,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04it had actually caught a really serious offender.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Now, as getaway vehicles go,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13skateboards probably aren't the obvious choice.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17But here's a shoplifter who thinks he knows a trick or two
0:21:17 > 0:21:20until he tries to pull one stunt too many.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Just before closing time
0:21:27 > 0:21:29and this superstore has a late customer -
0:21:29 > 0:21:33a hoodie-clad man carrying a skateboard.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36He head for the electronics department.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38A member of staff offers his help.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41It seems the man would like a phone accessory -
0:21:41 > 0:21:44difficult choice, but... "Uh, yeah, this looks good.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45"I'll have this one."
0:21:46 > 0:21:49The man heads off in the general direction of the checkouts,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52but en route, he makes a second selection -
0:21:52 > 0:21:53a flat-screen TV...
0:21:55 > 0:21:57..and takes to his skateboard.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00He doesn't want to waste any time by actually paying for it,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02so he skates right for an exit.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06But he's forced to do a quick turnaround
0:22:06 > 0:22:09when he runs into a locked door.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13The thief brandishes a small knife to evade capture
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and escapes through another door.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18But he finally skates into trouble further down the road
0:22:18 > 0:22:20when the police arrest him -
0:22:20 > 0:22:25presumably, it's easy to spot someone TV shopping on a skateboard.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Convicted of robbery,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30the skateboarder is now a boarder in a prison cell.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42Back to Manchester,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44and the frightening attempted robbery
0:22:44 > 0:22:48where a masked man has threatened a student with a gun
0:22:48 > 0:22:50and he's been bravely fought off.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53But the gunman is still on the loose.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57He's been tracked by the university security staff
0:22:57 > 0:22:58on their CCTV cameras.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00They need to keep him in view
0:23:00 > 0:23:02until a team on the ground can get there.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04We can't show their faces
0:23:04 > 0:23:06because they sometimes work undercover.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09He just decides to stroll nonchalantly back to his bike
0:23:09 > 0:23:11as if, you know, this is an everyday occurrence to him.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15What a disgusting thing to do. It's bad enough mugging someone,
0:23:15 > 0:23:19but to have a firearm thrust in your face or your chest,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21it's something the poor gentleman's got to live with
0:23:21 > 0:23:22for the rest of his life.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25They need to stop this gunman while they can see him.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28As he cycles off,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31unarmed guards arrive in vehicles.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33They risk everything to intercept him.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36They're led by a brave security man called Dave.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38My genuine thoughts were for the student,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40how he must have been feeling - I kept thinking,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42"I hope somebody would do it for my daughter or son,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44"if that was happening to them."
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Dave wrestles with the armed man.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Repeatedly going for his waistband of his trousers.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56They were anxiously shouting, "We need the police here, straightaway."
0:23:56 > 0:23:59PC Richard Beckinsale is arriving.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I knew that is was a situation that was violent that I was going into,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05that I needed to act quickly.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Richard immediately searches for the weapon.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09I just reached into his pocket, took it out
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and...I remember picking it up
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and the weight of it - metal, really heavy gun -
0:24:14 > 0:24:16I just remember looking at it, thinking,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18"That's a real firearm, that is."
0:24:18 > 0:24:22The disarmed mugger is handcuffed and taken into custody.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26He is identified as 32-year-old Jason Dunne.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Currently at Longsight Police Station with Jason Dunne,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36who's been arrested on suspicion of a firearms offence and robbery.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Just filming the clothing that he's wearing at this moment in time.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Dunne's clothes are seized for evidence
0:24:43 > 0:24:44and on closer inspection,
0:24:44 > 0:24:49his gun turns out to be an extremely convincing replica.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52It's a really heavy, heavy metal and it's extremely realistic.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54If you're walking home, 4am,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56someone holds that up to you, points it to your face
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and tells you it's a gun and they want your things,
0:24:59 > 0:25:00you're going to think it's a gun.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Detective Constable Laura Sheppey investigates the case.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09The offender is wanting the intended victim
0:25:09 > 0:25:11to believe that it's a real firearm.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13It doesn't matter whether it works or not,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15you can still find yourself in prison
0:25:15 > 0:25:17for a very, very long period of time.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Dunne realises this, so now, unbelievably,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26he tries to switch the story round, saying he was the victim
0:25:26 > 0:25:28and the student, Dominic, was the aggressor.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32DUNNE, ON TAPE: 'He kneed me into my groin
0:25:32 > 0:25:34'and when I've gone to get it out, I think he's realised,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36'and he's grabbed it like that in my hand.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40'I said, "Let go of me, man. What are you doing?"
0:25:40 > 0:25:41'He was overpowering me.'
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Nice story.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46We know that that's a complete lie
0:25:46 > 0:25:51and the CCTV completely blows that version of events out of the water.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Police officers love CCTV.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Dunne didn't know the whole incident's been filmed on CCTV,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01but even when he does, he still rather pathetically
0:26:01 > 0:26:03tries to cling to his story.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- ON TAPE:- 'I think it's very important, Jason,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07'you watch this very carefully.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10'He does not knee you before you get that firearm out of your pocket.'
0:26:10 > 0:26:13DUNNE, ON TAPE: 'Look at him, look what he's doing - he's grabbing hold of me.'
0:26:13 > 0:26:16'You're grabbing him and he's frightened of you.'
0:26:16 > 0:26:18'No, no, no - that's when he starts grabbing it, now,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20'because I've brought it out.'
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- 'You've brought it out...' - 'There - he's just kneed me.'
0:26:23 > 0:26:27'Jason, this CCTV, this doesn't lie.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29'How scared do you think he is?'
0:26:29 > 0:26:31'How scared do you think I am?'
0:26:31 > 0:26:33'You're the one with the gun, Jason.'
0:26:33 > 0:26:35'Can I stop this now? I want to speak to my solicitor.'
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It could have ended up being Dunne's word against his victim's
0:26:40 > 0:26:46if it wasn't for the CCTV captured by the university security team.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50To have the incident from the very, very beginning, if you like,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53even before it started, to the very end,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57with him being carted off by the police officers,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00it was the making of this case.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Brilliant, brilliant footage.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07Unsurprisingly, in court,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Dunne pleads guilty to attempted robbery
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and is sentenced to five years in prison.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Manchester University security staff
0:27:19 > 0:27:22are commended for their brave actions.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27For them to respond so quickly and also to try and help me
0:27:27 > 0:27:28so quickly...
0:27:30 > 0:27:31I really respected that.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35But Dunne may never have been caught at all
0:27:35 > 0:27:37if it wasn't for Dominic.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40By standing up for himself, he delayed Dunne long enough
0:27:40 > 0:27:42for the security team to catch him.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43Met his match, really -
0:27:43 > 0:27:46didn't actually think our victim would fight back and he did.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Understandably, it took Dominic a little while
0:27:49 > 0:27:54to get over his experience, including some sleepless nights.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58But he's back on course to become a mechanical engineer.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Plans for the future would be to finish my degree
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and hopefully secure a good job
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and have as much of a good time as I can while I experience it.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14That's it for today - join us next time
0:28:14 > 0:28:15when police, and the public,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18will be catching more criminals red-handed.