0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12To cut down on crime and anti-social behaviour, the police
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and 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 > 0:00:26Local 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 > 0:00:32And the general public too can help unsuspecting crooks
0:00:32 > 0:00:33get 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 pack up.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It made me swallow 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 > 0:00:56Today, over 40 brazen burglaries.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00A gang steal from victims right before their eyes.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03To actually see that footage really paints the picture
0:01:03 > 0:01:04and how callous they are.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Police pull out all the stops to close in on the gang.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Also today, a bizarre fraud.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15A woman dresses up to impersonate the pensioner she looks after
0:01:15 > 0:01:18and then tries to withdraw the victim's life savings.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20She did go into a lot of preparation.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24The wig, the hat, glasses, walking stick and a carrier bag.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29But there's no disguising that there's a flaw in her plan.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35And this guy's plan to torch a truck backfires, literally.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37He's caught red-hot handed.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's a cold January evening.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55An elderly man sits inside his flat in front of a gas fire
0:01:55 > 0:01:57and watches television.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59A warm, cosy room.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02But it's about to become the scene of a chilling crime.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07All of a sudden, two men come into the room.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10They start to rifle through the man's belongings.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14These are burglars. Particularly callous burglars.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18They've no concern for their victim, or whether he sees them or not.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21They know an elderly man can't stop them.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24It's really distressing to watch, and anybody who watches this,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27I'm sure, will feel a real sense of, you know,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29their heartstrings pulling, really.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And this is only one of this gang's crimes.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38These are ruthless men who've been responsible for a four-month blitz
0:02:38 > 0:02:42on the homes of dozens of elderly men and women across the country.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46She asked them to leave but they just carry on around her.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49They even search the sofa where she's sitting.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51They don't care. They just don't care.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54But the police certainly do care.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58They're racing to stop them before they target more victims.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Detective Inspector Tina Robinson
0:03:04 > 0:03:08works for Avon and Somerset's Serious And Organised Crime Group.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11There's been a sudden spike in the number of burglaries
0:03:11 > 0:03:14at the homes of elderly residents in the area.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Tina starts an investigation.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20The majority of the victims were in their 80s and they target them
0:03:20 > 0:03:24because, often, people are at home alone.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28They don't always realise that someone's come into the property.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33They may keep valuables at home and aren't always able to call for help.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36These burglaries are exceptionally shocking.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41This gang have been either forcing their way in or posing as officials,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45then they set about stealing - right in front of their victims.
0:03:45 > 0:03:51They were taking jewellery, cash, items of real sentimentality.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Things that have been passed down through generations.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56So, items that are...
0:03:56 > 0:03:58It doesn't matter if you've got insurance,
0:03:58 > 0:03:59they're just irreplaceable.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03The police are taking the issue of crime against
0:04:03 > 0:04:05elderly people very seriously.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08With an increasing number of older people living alone,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11it's a country-wide problem.
0:04:11 > 0:04:1477-year-old retired nurse Alice suffered a similar
0:04:14 > 0:04:18type of crime in her home on the south coast
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and she's told us about the impact it's had on her.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I may appear as if everything is just fine.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27But it's not fine.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30It makes you feel very insecure.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34And it makes you feel very angry inside.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Alice lives alone in a flat.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39One evening when she had just finished eating
0:04:39 > 0:04:43a meal in the living room, she walked through into her bedroom.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49I noticed the net curtains in the bedroom had dropped.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53And I thought it was a cat or a fox had got through the window.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Alice had left the window open on a chain which was now broken
0:04:57 > 0:05:00and she saw muddy imprints on the carpet and bed.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03It was just like an animal had jumped
0:05:03 > 0:05:08on to the corner of the bed. Because they left this great big dirty mark.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Alice searched the flat for a fox or a cat but
0:05:11 > 0:05:16when she saw her bedroom dressing table, the horrible truth dawned.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I've got a little ornament that I keep my rings on.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24And the most important ring to me, my wedding ring, had vanished.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Then it hit me.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31This is no fox. This is no cat. I've had a burglar.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35I just felt quite sick.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39To think that this person had got through the window
0:05:39 > 0:05:42and walked all over my bed.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Despite being in the very next room, Alice didn't hear a thing.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48I couldn't believe it.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Because if I had walked into my bedroom and saw him standing there...
0:05:57 > 0:06:00I think I would've died on the spot. I really do.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Because it was the last thing I ever expected.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Back in Avon and Somerset, Detective Inspector Tina Robinson
0:06:09 > 0:06:13and her colleagues are on the trail of their own local gang of
0:06:13 > 0:06:17burglars who've been targeting the homes of elderly people like Alice.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20And they make an important discovery
0:06:20 > 0:06:22at the scene of a burglary near Bath.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24We did have a great break in the fact that
0:06:24 > 0:06:26we had some forensic evidence left at the scene.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28One of the burglars has cut himself
0:06:28 > 0:06:32and left behind a DNA calling card - some of his blood.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36And that was really critical to then confirming Michael McDonagh
0:06:36 > 0:06:39was involved in the offences.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41This is Michael McDonagh.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44He's a career criminal who'd only just left prison
0:06:44 > 0:06:49when he was captured in this significant piece of CCTV footage.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51It shows the front room of a woman's home.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Because she's been previously burgled, local police have
0:06:55 > 0:06:59installed this hidden camera in case it happens again.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02The elderly woman is sat on her sofa just out of view
0:07:02 > 0:07:04when two burglars enter.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09She realises something's going on but doesn't really understand
0:07:09 > 0:07:13what they're doing. They identify themselves as police officers and
0:07:13 > 0:07:17she asks them to leave, but they just carry on around her.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It doesn't matter how much you describe something in a police
0:07:21 > 0:07:24statement, to actually see that footage, to see what they're
0:07:24 > 0:07:26capable of and how callous they are,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30that really paints the picture.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Importantly, it also shows what two of the burglars
0:07:33 > 0:07:35are wearing during the raid.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39One's wearing the deerstalker hat and another is wearing a baseball cap.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42And a burglar wearing a distinctive deerstalker hat with
0:07:42 > 0:07:47earflaps has been described by eye witnesses as far afield
0:07:47 > 0:07:52as Cornwall and Lincolnshire following a spate of break-ins.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55The sheer scale of these crimes starts to emerge.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58They're caught again on another hidden camera
0:07:58 > 0:08:02planted by local police. This time, as we saw earlier,
0:08:02 > 0:08:03it's an elderly man's house.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Actually there are very few offenders out there who will target
0:08:07 > 0:08:09the vulnerable in this way.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12There might not be physical violence,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15but psychologically it can be very traumatising.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Police from different regions now join together
0:08:18 > 0:08:21in a determined operation to stop this gang.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We were working with six or seven other forces, everyone coming
0:08:24 > 0:08:28together and everybody just really pulled the stops out.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30It becomes a manhunt.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Across the country, police officers
0:08:32 > 0:08:35collect information from all the crime scenes.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38It's analysed, and a pattern emerges.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Tina's team gets the intelligence they need to start searching.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45We were able to utilise technology to establish
0:08:45 > 0:08:47where they've been travelling.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49They get a positive lead on the gang's movements
0:08:49 > 0:08:53when they find that they stopped at a garage in Wiltshire.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56What's significant in this footage is identifying
0:08:56 > 0:08:59the vehicle that they were using to travel
0:08:59 > 0:09:02and to commit the offences, and once we had that vehicle and the
0:09:02 > 0:09:06number plate, then we were able to utilise number plate recognition.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08We were then able to home in.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11The police are hot on the men's heels.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14They're now on the lookout for this blue Skoda.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18A squad car soon spots it in the town of Street, Somerset.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19We did find the vehicle.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23It made off from the police and unfortunately the manner
0:09:23 > 0:09:26of the driving was so dangerous that the vehicle was able to escape.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29But crucially, during the pursuit, the thieves throw out
0:09:29 > 0:09:33the hats they've been wearing, including - yes - that deerstalker.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36We recovered those items and got DNA
0:09:36 > 0:09:40and that was really critical to then confirming Michael McDonagh
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and Patrick Connors were involved in the offences.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Patrick Connors is a known associate of McDonagh
0:09:45 > 0:09:49and an extensive search is launched for the two men.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Ports and airports are asked to keep a lookout.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Within the next 24 to 36 hours we had located Michael McDonagh.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00He is arrested at a house near Bristol.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Then Connors is picked up at a port.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05He was trying to leave the country at the time to go to Ireland.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09They've got them. Their campaign of crime is over.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Now Tina's team turn their attention to the evidence.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16They painstakingly map out every detail of each
0:10:16 > 0:10:20one of the burglaries to show the full scale of their offences.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23We wanted to make sure that no stone was left unturned and that
0:10:23 > 0:10:26when they went to court, that we
0:10:26 > 0:10:29could really present all of the information that we had available.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33The pair are successfully linked to a shocking total
0:10:33 > 0:10:35of 42 burglaries across the UK.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Michael McDonagh is sentenced to nine years in prison.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Patrick Connors is sentenced to six years
0:10:46 > 0:10:48in a young offenders institution.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54Their bank accounts are frozen and £37,000 is seized.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It will be used to compensate the victims.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01The police are still actively trying to identify a third man
0:11:01 > 0:11:04seen here on the petrol station footage.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07So, anybody who has any information and is able to identify that
0:11:07 > 0:11:09individual, then please come forward.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13You can either contact Avon and Somerset Police or make
0:11:13 > 0:11:16a phone call to Crimestoppers and any information will be followed up.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Tina and her team have received an official
0:11:19 > 0:11:21commendation for their work on this case.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25And there's also some good news for Alice,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28when the man who burgled her flat is also caught
0:11:28 > 0:11:30and admits to the crime.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34I attended court and the judge gave him the very maximum.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38For the present, I feel a bit safe that I know he's locked up.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Yes, it was good news.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Most of us feel safe in our homes and so we should.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Because burglaries, particularly when we're actually in the house,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55are mercifully very rare.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59But police offer ways to help keep criminals away.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00To avoid being burgled,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03what we can do is look to put obstacles in the way.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Make it really difficult for that burglar to enter our property.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08For example, ornaments on the window sill,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12to make it difficult for them to climb in and get easy access.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Or things like wind chimes,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17so that if a person was to climb in, they would make a lot of noise.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Anything you can do in advance of the person breaking in, to signal
0:12:21 > 0:12:24that the house is occupied, that you're there, makes a difference.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27If the lights are on, if there's a radio playing,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31if there's a sound of a dog barking, everything makes a difference.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34So if you're going to another part of the house make sure you lock the
0:12:34 > 0:12:38doors and windows in the rest of the house because it might be that you're
0:12:38 > 0:12:41going out to the garden and actually you're leaving your doors open.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43That's an opportunity for a thief to walk in.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Don't play with fire. Every mother's advice.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54And we're about to see a man who should've listened.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56He does something very hazardous,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00but fortunately the only thing seriously hurt is his pride.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's 5:00 AM in Rochdale, and while most people are in bed,
0:13:08 > 0:13:13this man is intent on damage of a dangerous nature.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17CCTV cameras show him trying to set light to a parked recovery truck.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20But while he pours flammable liquid all over the bonnet,
0:13:20 > 0:13:25he fails to notice that some of it spills on his clothes.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28When he goes to light it, boom!
0:13:28 > 0:13:32This fumbling fire setter has set fire to himself and he dashes
0:13:32 > 0:13:36down the street, desperately trying to put out the fire on his sleeve.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40His getaway driver's waiting, but won't let in his flaming friend
0:13:40 > 0:13:44until he dumps his burning top on the ground.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47When he does, the pair speed off.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48But the police release these images,
0:13:48 > 0:13:53asking for information on anybody who's recently burnt themselves.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57The culprit is caught and given a good grilling by police.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59No further action was taken, but let's hope
0:13:59 > 0:14:02having had his fingers burned, he's learnt his lesson.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Coming up, a man collapses in a bar
0:14:12 > 0:14:14but a bystander knows just what to do.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17He relieves pressure on the man's chest
0:14:17 > 0:14:18by stealing his wallet.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22How low can a thief stoop?
0:14:23 > 0:14:27And the sort of crime show that cops themselves love to watch.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Police surround a building with a burglar still inside,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33but it's not a TV drama, this is for real.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I think it's what every police officer joins the job for.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36A job like that.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42What does a thief look like?
0:14:42 > 0:14:45A shifty-looking young bloke in a hoodie, maybe?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47No. You'd be surprised.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50They come in all shapes, all sizes and all disguises.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59These pictures are from a security camera at a bank.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01It's a charity fancy dress day.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05As it happens, there's another person here who's in disguise -
0:15:05 > 0:15:08a thief attempting a bizarre deception.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12No, it's not this man here dressed as a superhero, it's this woman.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19She wore a wig, a hat, had a walking stick and a carrier bag.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23And she walked very slowly to act as an elderly lady.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28This is not a game or prank. There's nothing amusing about this woman.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29Quite the opposite.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33She's a heartless thief who has dressed up to impersonate
0:15:33 > 0:15:36the elderly woman she's supposed to be looking after.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39She was a callous individual who'd gone out
0:15:39 > 0:15:43to fleece an elderly 81-year-old victim.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52There are no prizes for guessing what used to be the main
0:15:52 > 0:15:55industry in the Leicestershire town of Coalville.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Times have moved on for the town, but the police have discovered
0:15:58 > 0:16:02a local woman who's interested in mining of a different kind.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03She's digging for money.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07The victim was an 81-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11and obviously she needed the care of somebody 24 hours a day.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Through an agency, the woman's family employ a full-time carer.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18She had only worked for the care company for a matter of months
0:16:18 > 0:16:22and she, on a daily basis, would attend the house,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26cook and clean for her and she was well aware of the finances
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and the money that the victim had in her account.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33And the calculating carer works out an elaborate plan to steal
0:16:33 > 0:16:35the elderly woman's savings.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39She stole the paying-in book, the chequebook and the utility bills.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41She stole them so she could impersonate her victim.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44There's just one slight problem, though -
0:16:44 > 0:16:46the carer's 47 years old.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Her victim's 81.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52She did go into a lot of preparation to disguise herself
0:16:52 > 0:16:55and pass herself off as an 81-year-old female.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58And in a strange twist of fate,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00on the day of her sinister subterfuge,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02she's not the only one in costume.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05It's a fundraising fancy dress day at the bank.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10The branch were doing a sponsored superhero day.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Some of the members of staff were dressed as superheroes.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18And Batman was on the scene.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22And alongside Batman is a woman who's purpose is robbin'.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27But watching her at work is more like something from a horror film.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30When she walked into the bank, she was walking slowly.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Her answers to the staff at the branch were very slow,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38so it was a whole package that she did.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41At first, it looks like her ruse may pay off.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44She did withdraw £400 in cash.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47But some things will always give away a person's age.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49When she went to sign for the £400,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53it was very quick from the cashier to notice that it was
0:17:53 > 0:17:57the hand of a 47-year-old and not that of an 81-year-old.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00And now, the so-called carer gets careless.
0:18:00 > 0:18:06She then got greedy. Because she attempted then to withdraw £22,000.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09The staff ask her for identification.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14She shows them the stolen utility bills but, already suspicious,
0:18:14 > 0:18:15they want more.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18They asked for further identification,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20ie a driving licence, passport.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Which she doesn't have.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24The assistant called over her supervisor.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28At this point she then realised she might've been rumbled.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32The carer says she feels unwell and needs some air.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35When she leaves the branch, she goes to a waiting vehicle
0:18:35 > 0:18:37where her boyfriend is.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39A member of staff secretly follows her
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and watches her hand over the £400 to her boyfriend.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46He's been waiting in a lay-by around the corner.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Meanwhile...
0:18:47 > 0:18:51The assistant and the supervisor have contacted the police
0:18:51 > 0:18:53and in between that time, the police have attended
0:18:53 > 0:18:56and are led into a back room.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59But the carer's had a bit of a senior moment.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03She realises she's left her victim's chequebook behind at the bank.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05And that was her downfall,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09as again greed kicked in and she knew that she needed that chequebook
0:19:09 > 0:19:14to either carry out further frauds or not leave any evidence behind.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Not knowing the police are at the bank,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19the carer phones up to see if she can come and collect the chequebook.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24The shop staff at the branch have said, "Yep. You come back."
0:19:24 > 0:19:28She goes back in character, thinking she's fooling everyone.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31But the bank staff know who's really the fool.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34She was shown into the back room, or she shuffled into the back room
0:19:34 > 0:19:37and was promptly nicked there by the police officers.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41They've got her. But there's still the boyfriend in the car.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Turns out he's not adverse to a spot of acting, either.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48When the police went to arrest him, he kept up the pretence,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52asking if the 81-year-old was OK.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57The "I was only driving Miss Daisy" story doesn't wash with police
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and he's arrested with his girlfriend who's clearly
0:20:00 > 0:20:02having a very bad hair day.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Even after arrest, she carried on pretending to be
0:20:05 > 0:20:08an 81-year-old right up until interview.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12But I think once her wig came off, we realised that she was 47.
0:20:12 > 0:20:13- And blonde.- Yes, and blonde.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20For their roles in this costume drama, the carer
0:20:20 > 0:20:25and her boyfriend are found guilty of fraud by false representation.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28They are both sentenced to 16 months in prison.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32The bank staff may not really have superpowers,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35but they were super vigilant.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39That, and a super speedy response from the police have rescued
0:20:39 > 0:20:41an elderly woman's savings.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42I have visited the victim
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and although she's suffering from Alzheimer's
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and isn't aware of what's happened,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51in relation to her being a victim of a fraud, she is now,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55we are confident, receiving good care and she is happy,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58and we are happy that she is receiving the care that she deserves.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Now, if we're taken ill suddenly when we were out,
0:21:06 > 0:21:09we'd hope that strangers might offer a helping hand,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12not help themselves to our valuables.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19We've seen a few good Samaritans in this series.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22People who've helped out their fellow citizens but now,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26here's a tale of a really bad Samaritan.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28In the middle of a romantic date,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32a man has collapsed with a suspected heart attack.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36He is helped to the floor by his companion and other people.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Working together, the woman tries to calm the stricken man
0:21:40 > 0:21:42while another man checks his breathing.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Meanwhile, this man nicks his wallet.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52Yes. This guy has just stolen from a possible heart attack victim.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57He later takes cash out of the wallet before handing it in,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59pretending he found it on the floor.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Fortunately the heart attack turns out to be a false alarm
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and when the patient returns the next day to pick up
0:22:07 > 0:22:11his wallet from the bar, he notices there's some money missing.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15But a check of the CCTV cameras leads to the man
0:22:15 > 0:22:17being arrested and charged.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19He's later convicted of theft.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Let's hope next time he comes across someone in trouble
0:22:22 > 0:22:25he'll try to help them instead of helping himself.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34Most of the time, police are called after a crime has taken place,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37and they then have to track the culprit down afterwards.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41But when they join forces with live CCTV cameras and a sharp-eyed
0:22:41 > 0:22:45operator, then there's nowhere left for a burglar to hide.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56Darlington town centre in County Durham. It's nearly 2:00 AM.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Council CCTV cameras watch over the streets.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01There's not much happening.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Actually, there is that bloke there.
0:23:06 > 0:23:12He could be just innocently walking home, or he could be up to no good.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16And around half an hour later, it turns out to be just that.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18He's a burglar.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19But the local council
0:23:19 > 0:23:23and police are about to get together to spoil his night.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34Darlington takes great pride in its Grade II listed market hall.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Albert is the manager there.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40The market's Victorian. It's 150 years old.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43We sell what you expect in the market - cards, butchery,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46fruit and vegetables, that type of thing.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48It's the hub of the town centre.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52And there's another more modern hub that helps look after the hall
0:23:52 > 0:23:53and the rest of the town.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56The council's CCTV control room.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Kevin is one of the camera operators.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Well, I've been here all my life, Darlington. Born and bred Darlo lad.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06I find it a fantastic place and the people, I've always found them
0:24:06 > 0:24:07friendly and helpful.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11Camera operators like Kevin are skilled at spotting any
0:24:11 > 0:24:12trouble that's brewing.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16It's a bit more difficult when there are lots of people about.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17But in the early hours...
0:24:17 > 0:24:20You do tend to pick up movement, especially when it's quiet.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23That particular night, picking the movement up was quite easy
0:24:23 > 0:24:25because there wasn't many people around to pick up on.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Kevin spots a man on the pavement. He walks up an alleyway.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34Inspector Chris Knox, on patrol in a police van nearby is also
0:24:34 > 0:24:36suspicious when he sees the man.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38First of all, it was 1:45 AM
0:24:38 > 0:24:39on a Monday morning,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and secondly this man was known to us.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46The man has previous convictions for burgling commercial properties.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50On turning the police vehicle round, the man had disappeared.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53So we notified the CCTV operators and asked them
0:24:53 > 0:24:54to keep an eye out for him.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Which they do. And moments later, Kevin sees the man again.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Now he's on a bicycle.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03I zoomed in initially to confirm it was this particular person,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06then zoomed the camera back out so not to infringe
0:25:06 > 0:25:07his rights of privacy.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09The way the cameras were set up that night,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11as he went off one camera he went on to another camera.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14So we could keep an eye on where he was going.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17After ditching his bike, the man ends up loitering in a doorway
0:25:17 > 0:25:21before sauntering across the square towards the market building.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25And then he disappeared. The movement stopped.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27That did set alarm bells ringing with myself
0:25:27 > 0:25:29and the colleague I was on shift with.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33Kevin informs the police and an officer arrives to take a look.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Part of the cafe's glass door has been smashed. It's a break-in.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38She calls for backup.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40We don't enter the premises at that stage,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43when you've only got one officer at the scene.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45We've got to think of the safety of that officer.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50As more units arrive, Kevin's sharp eyes catch sight of a shadowy
0:25:50 > 0:25:54figure making his way across the upper floors of the market.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56The burglar could be looking for an escape route.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59While the police keep guard at the front of the building,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Kevin trains cameras onto all the other exit points.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05I was looking at all the cameras so I could see, if he left
0:26:05 > 0:26:08which way he was going, what direction he'd be travelling.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Inspector Knox arrives at the scene.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12It's pitch black inside the building.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16He doesn't know what his officers might be faced with in the dark.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18The officer that's in there is at risk
0:26:18 > 0:26:21because you've got butcher's shops,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23fishmongers, hardware stores where
0:26:23 > 0:26:28there's all variety of implements that could be used as weapons.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30If the burglar tries to make a run for it,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Kevin's ready to alert police.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Inspector Knox calls in a market key-holder to turn on the lights
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and drafts in some specialist help -
0:26:40 > 0:26:41a police dog.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42It is useful to have a police dog.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45They bark a lot, they make a lot of noise and a lot of people
0:26:45 > 0:26:48will obey instructions if a police dog's there.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50The key-holder arrives.
0:26:50 > 0:26:51Now they have light.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Chris' team and the dog search every room
0:26:54 > 0:26:59until they get to the top floor where they find a door jammed shut.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03It became apparent that the man or an object was behind the door.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Chris decides to send the dog in to sniff the burglar out.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08We forced open the door.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11A shovel had been placed behind the handle on the other side.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13And the dog entered the room.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16The dog heads over to a pile of boxes in a far corner
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and barks loudly to show he means business.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22The police dog could obviously tell there was
0:27:22 > 0:27:23something behind the boxes.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The burglar doesn't argue with the dog and gives himself up.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28This man didn't put up any struggle
0:27:28 > 0:27:30when we detained him and handcuffed him
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and brought him out of the building.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36There is some damage to the market, but Kevin's eagle eyes and the
0:27:36 > 0:27:40rapid response from the police mean the impact on business is minimal.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47In court, the burglar is sentenced to six weeks in prison
0:27:47 > 0:27:49suspended for two years.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55The close working relationship between the CCTV control room
0:27:55 > 0:27:57and the police is working well.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59A think it's what every police officer joins the job for,
0:27:59 > 0:28:00a job like that.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04It's not something that comes every day, so to actually get somebody
0:28:04 > 0:28:09arrested for a burgling while he's still committing the offence,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12you get quite a lot of pride by doing that.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16I think one of the biggest positives is the trusting in the system.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19The CCTV system, and also the trust in the police.
0:28:19 > 0:28:24They were absolutely brilliant. It was all done and dusted within a day.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25And what more can you ask for?
0:28:31 > 0:28:34That's it for today. Join us next time
0:28:34 > 0:28:35when police and the public
0:28:35 > 0:28:37will be catching more criminals red-handed.