0:00:02 > 0:00:04Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour
0:00:10 > 0:00:15the police and other agencies are using new tactics and technology
0:00:15 > 0:00:18so the bad guys get caught in the act.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20The CCTV is gold dust.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Great evidence for the police.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Got to have him stopped.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Local councils, shops and businesses are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29The eureka moment when you get that evidence.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32And the general public too can help unsuspecting crooks
0:00:32 > 0:00:34get their comeuppance.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35People won't stand by.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I couldn't sit back and do nothing.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Yes! We've got her.
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.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Today - a husband and wife come face-to-face
0:00:54 > 0:00:56with two armed robbers in their shop.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57He said, "Give me your money,"
0:00:57 > 0:01:00and took out the gun. This was a really big gun.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03They're petrified, but refuse to hand over the money.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I told him, "No, I'm not giving you anything."
0:01:05 > 0:01:10And I was thinking, "Oh, God. How to stop him?"
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Also today - the secrets of the cashpoint scam.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Crooks can steal our cash when they're nowhere to be seen.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I thought, "It's my village, they're doing it in my village."
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I think it's absolutely disgusting that they were taking money from people.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27But Megan and the police show us how the scammers can be stopped.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And, where have all the flowers gone?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34The mystery of a grand theft floral.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37But a planted camera weeds out the culprit.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51The town of Bacup near Burnley in East Lancashire.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56It's a quiet Tuesday lunchtime for the couple who run this post office and shop.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Suddenly, two armed robbers storm in through the door.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06One has a gun and the other's wielding a metal rod.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08He said, "Right now,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10"give me everything. Give me your money."
0:02:10 > 0:02:12It was scary, really scary.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14I was thinking if we will not give anything
0:02:14 > 0:02:16then they will definitely shoot.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19But even though they're held-up at gunpoint,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21the shop owners bravely take a stand.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25It just came in my mind, "No, I'm not giving you anything."
0:02:25 > 0:02:30They set off a loud alarm and the robbers run out empty-handed.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32So they still need money.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34We don't know what they're capable of
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and how far they're willing to go to get the money they need.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Two armed and dangerous robbers are at large in the town.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52The Lancashire town of Bacup sits at the foot of the Pennines.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55It grew as a mill town,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and its strong community spirit has helped it prosper,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00and it continues to thrive today.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Sunny and Komal own a post office and shop in the
0:03:06 > 0:03:10quiet area of Britannia on the outskirts of Bacup.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13They've been married for over a quarter of a century
0:03:13 > 0:03:15and work side-by-side everyday.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19We hardly have the time to fight because we're always working!
0:03:20 > 0:03:23He's on the quieter side,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and I'm a bit talkative.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29So that's how I think it's balanced out.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Yeah, yeah, yeah. I work happily and enjoy working together.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36So no problem at all.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I think we are right for each other.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44That's why we must have spent 25 years together!
0:03:44 > 0:03:46The couple moved here seven years ago.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It's a really quite good area and excellent.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52People are very nice, and good support we got from them.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Basically, I love talking to customers, that's my passion.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57And that's why I've chosen this job,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01because every day you'll learn something from some customer.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Historically, Bacup has a low crime rate
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and the couple have never been victims of crime.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10But aware that businesses like theirs can attract thieves,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Komal has put in CCTV cameras and panic buttons.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I know the post office is a target,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21so just to protect ourselves it's better to have cameras
0:04:21 > 0:04:24because you never know when trouble comes to you.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29And one Tuesday in May, trouble does come to Sunny and Komal.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34It's around midday and there are no customers in the shop.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Sunny's working behind the counter.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Komal is doing paperwork in the post office section behind him,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42just off-camera,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46when suddenly two robbers wearing hoodies burst through the door.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51It's so sudden, Sunny freezes in shock.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55He said, "Right now, give me everything. Give me your money."
0:04:55 > 0:04:58The robber in a grey hoodie has a gun.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The other, dressed in white with their face covered,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03is a brandishing a metal bar.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05It's a terrifying sight.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Then I came to realise, "Oh, my God, these are robbers."
0:05:08 > 0:05:11And that was a very scary thing, you know?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14The robber in grey heads straight for the post office counter.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Komal looks up from her work to find that she's
0:05:16 > 0:05:19staring down the barrel of a gun.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21I'd never seen a gun in my life.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I thought, "If he's shooting then no-one is going to survive."
0:05:25 > 0:05:29The gunman demands cash. But despite her fear,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Komal refuses to hand it over.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33It's very hard to make money.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36It just came in my mind, "No, I'm not giving anything."
0:05:36 > 0:05:38The pair turn their attention to Sunny,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40who's standing next to the till.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41The gun was at my head.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I was just thinking, "What will happen now?"
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Sunny has to save himself, so he put both his hands up.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Sunny thinks he's facing two men.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But when the robber next to the door shouts and threatens him
0:05:53 > 0:05:56he's shocked to find he's mistaken.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59It was not a guy, it was a girl holding a steel rod.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05Sunny's frightened, but he doesn't intend to hand over the cash.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07He knows there's a panic button by the till
0:06:07 > 0:06:09and, bravely, he decides to trick the robbers.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13So, I said, "All right, I'll give you everything."
0:06:13 > 0:06:15But I had to open the till
0:06:15 > 0:06:17and I don't want to give her everything, you know.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21But instead, he reaches forward and presses the panic button.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26It triggers a very loud alarm and sends an alert to the police.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28And it has a dramatic effect on the robbers.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31They panic and run out of the door.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And Sunny runs after them!
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I was trying to catch them!
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Komal is horrified.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40He just ran after them, thinking what, I don't know.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- I shouted behind him. I said, "Don't run!"- Yeah.- But he won't listen.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49The two armed robbers split up and disappear into the town.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51So Sunny returns to the shop.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57We hugged and we thought, oh, we are, you know, OK, both of us.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01The police are there within minutes of the alarm and,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03with two armed robbers on the loose,
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Detective Constable Haydn Sibley knows there's no time to lose.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09A firearm's been used in this offence,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12so everybody that was available at that moment in time was
0:07:12 > 0:07:15deployed to Bacup to try and locate these suspects.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Later...
0:07:18 > 0:07:20police gather vital evidence...
0:07:20 > 0:07:24His face covering lowers, which means we can see his face.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27..and they get extra help from the townspeople.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Word spread very fast about what had happened at the post office.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35The town of Bacup has two armed robbers running free in its streets!
0:07:40 > 0:07:43When a floral display suddenly disappears,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45grazing deer are suspected.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49But the pest turns out to be of the two-legged variety.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Some thefts really are quite bizarre!
0:07:55 > 0:07:59On this covered walkway, it looks like this woman's filling
0:07:59 > 0:08:03some empty plant boxes, but actually, she's emptying them!
0:08:04 > 0:08:07She's stealing the flowers from what were boxes
0:08:07 > 0:08:11full of beautiful blooms planted by local girl guides.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And it's not the first time the flowers have gone missing.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18The local residents think they keep being eaten by deer.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22When the council check their CCTV, what do they find?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Not deer, but "Oh, dear!"
0:08:25 > 0:08:29The petal pincher is a local woman who should know better.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Even the dog looks embarrassed to be there!
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Obviously, the town think this is a blooming disgrace and, in court, the
0:08:37 > 0:08:41woman's fined hundreds of dollars and has to pay for the flowers.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Hopefully, her descent into a life of crime has been nipped in the bud!
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Coming up, this burglar's made up his mind
0:08:52 > 0:08:54what he wants at a Chinese takeaway.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58He's going to take away the chef's most valued possessions.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02We felt our blood literally run cold, cos someone had crept up
0:09:02 > 0:09:05into our private quarters while we were still there.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Two restaurateurs combined
0:09:07 > 0:09:11to cook up a way to get the thief his just deserts.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18When we use a cash machine, I think most of us
0:09:18 > 0:09:21would check that there are no shady characters lurking around.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25But here's a warning of a way that some sneaky thieves will try
0:09:25 > 0:09:29and get their hands on our cash, even if they're nowhere to be seen.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The village of Esh Winning in County Durham.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41This man's bank card is stuck in a cashpoint machine.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44He believes it's been swallowed up by the ATM, so he leaves.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Shortly after, another man arrives to make a withdrawal, but what he's
0:09:49 > 0:09:53actually taking out of the machine is the first man's bank card.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It's a scam.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58They will withdraw the money very quickly, before the victim realised.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The area where these people were targeting were pit villages.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04A pair of crooks are stealing hundreds of pounds
0:10:04 > 0:10:07from people's bank accounts. The police warn the public
0:10:07 > 0:10:10by putting pictures of the thieves out on social media.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I look at the police website every day, and it wasn't nice to see
0:10:13 > 0:10:16that something like that was happening in this village.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Then, Megan spots a couple of familiar faces.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I couldn't believe my eyes. It was definitely them!
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Esh Winning in County Durham is a former mining village.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Coal was mined nearby for over 100 years
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and, although that industry's gone,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41there's still a strong sense of community here.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45PC Mick Renshaw has worked in the area for over ten years.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47The city of Durham is surrounded by
0:10:47 > 0:10:50a number of pit villages, which are quite rural, um,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53very small populations, quite quiet little places.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56The area in general, Durham, is a very safe area to be.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59That view is shared by local resident Megan,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02a 20-year-old mental health support worker.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05I was born and bred in Esh Winning.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It's a very quiet village, um, there's no crime.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Megan likes to keep up with what's going on in the village,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16so she keeps an eye on the Durham Police social media page,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18in case there's any news about Esh Winning.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20I look at the police website every day.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23I mean, it's the village that I live in and you've got to look out
0:11:23 > 0:11:26for everybody else in your village as well, not just yourself.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30And the fact that Megan is looking out for everyone proves to be
0:11:30 > 0:11:34important, when local villagers start losing hard-earned cash.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Reports come into the police from villages around Durham that
0:11:39 > 0:11:43several people have fallen victim to cashpoint scammers
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and have had money stolen from their bank accounts.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49The police believe it could be the work of one gang.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I think the areas were being targeted, because generally,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55the cash machines do get used on quite a regular basis, so they've
0:11:55 > 0:11:58got the best of both, where the cash machines are getting used,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00but the area in general is also very quiet.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05Then, on a Sunday evening in August, the crooks come to Esh Winning.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09A customer has some money taken from their account after using the ATM.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14The cashpoint machine has a CCTV camera next to it.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16So the police study the footage from around the time the victim
0:12:16 > 0:12:19used the machine, and this is what they see.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25A man approaches. He's wearing a cap that hides his face.
0:12:25 > 0:12:26He pulls a device from his pocket
0:12:26 > 0:12:30and plants it in the top left-hand corner of the cashpoint.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32It's actually a tiny hidden camera.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38He pulls out a second item, a gadget designed to trap a bank card.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42He fits it into the slot and then disappears.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47Moments later, the unlucky victim puts his card into the machine.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51He types in his PIN, but the card stays stuck.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55After seven minutes trying, he gives up and walks away.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Just two minutes later, another man in a cap approaches.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02He's part of the scam.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04He picks up the hidden camera that will have recorded
0:13:04 > 0:13:06the customer's PIN number.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09He extracts the victim's captured card and pockets it.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13The thieves then head to a different cashpoint
0:13:13 > 0:13:15to withdraw the victim's money.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Mick explains how it works. First, the hidden camera.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21It's very simple, but very effective.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24A fascia, with a small hole cut in,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28magnets attached to the fascia, to the cashpoint, and then the device
0:13:28 > 0:13:32records the victim putting their PIN number into the machine.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34And a separate device is used to capture the card.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37When the machine tries to inject the card,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40it's trapped by the piece of metal to the rear.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43And a message flashes up to the victim, which says,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46"Your card has been taken by the machine."
0:13:46 > 0:13:50And can be hours or even days before the theft is noticed.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53The victim doesn't realise that some money's gone from their account.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56They simply just assume that the card's been swallowed,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58so a lot of these crimes do go unreported.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01It can have a huge impact on victims, both financially
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and emotionally, and also, it makes them think,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07next time they go to a cash machine, "Can I really trust what I'm doing?"
0:14:07 > 0:14:11About a month later, the thieves return to Esh Winning.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13This time, it's in broad daylight,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16making their appearance more recognisable.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18He's wearing a very distinctive jacket,
0:14:18 > 0:14:19which can be seen in the picture here.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23He also has a cap on and he also has a satchel.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26The police have been warning the public and appealing for help
0:14:26 > 0:14:30by posting clear pictures of the thieves on the intranet.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Social media is really important.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34It's members of the public who take the time to view
0:14:34 > 0:14:35the Durham Constabulary website
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and look at these articles that enable us to catch people.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Megan makes her daily check of the police website and is
0:14:42 > 0:14:47shocked to see that Esh Winning has been targeted by criminals.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50The image of those two people, it made me stop and look,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53because I think that's absolutely disgusting that they've been
0:14:53 > 0:14:56taking money from people. They could be taken from an elderly.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58It wasn't nice to see.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02A few days later, Megan's out with friends in the village.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I was having a few drinks with my friends in the club.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07The bar they're in is just down the road
0:15:07 > 0:15:09from the cashpoint in Esh Winning.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13That same night, the pair of thieves decide to return
0:15:13 > 0:15:17to plunder the village cash machine a third time!
0:15:17 > 0:15:19The man in a cap plants the devices.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24An unsuspecting member of the public's card is trapped.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28After he walks away, the other man in a cap arrives
0:15:28 > 0:15:30to steal the bank card.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34But this time, he's been spotted by more than just the CCTV camera.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37I came out for a cigarette with my friends
0:15:37 > 0:15:40and I spotted someone acting very strange at the cashpoint.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42And Megan's sure he's identical
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- to the man she saw on the police appeal.- I couldn't believe my eyes.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48It was the same clothing, so it was definitely them!
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I thought, "It's my village, they're doing it in my village,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53"and I'm ringing the police."
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Megan phones 999.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58And where they've been seen, the man takes the captured card,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01but he leaves their devices in place.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04They aim to capture another card.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06But they've picked the wrong time to get greedy.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09As they watched their next victim lose his card,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12the police are on their way, thanks to Megan!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Then we had some immediate response units
0:16:14 > 0:16:17and went off to them and stopped them.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18The two men are arrested.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23At the cash point, a team retrieve the camera and card trap.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28The thieves are caught carrying over £700 of other people's money.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30We were very satisfied we had enough evidence
0:16:30 > 0:16:33to get these two gentlemen charged and convicted of the offences.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Mick pulls all the evidence together.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42In court, they are both found guilty
0:16:42 > 0:16:44and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It was a great result for ourselves and the constabulary as a whole.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51It sends out a clear message to anybody who's coming
0:16:51 > 0:16:54to County Durham to commit this type of crime that we will stop you,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57we will catch you and we will convict you.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Social media has proved to be a useful tool in the fight
0:17:00 > 0:17:04against crime, and Megan's delighted with the part she played.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07It was quite a relief that they had been locked up
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and I was pleased with myself as well, for the fact that
0:17:10 > 0:17:14I rang the police and got criminals took off the street.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21This type of crime is, thankfully, rare.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22But there are things we can do
0:17:22 > 0:17:26to avoid falling victim to cashpoint scams.
0:17:26 > 0:17:27One of the easiest things
0:17:27 > 0:17:29is make sure nobody's looking over your shoulder.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Hide your pin number, make sure people are far enough away from you
0:17:33 > 0:17:34or why are they so close?
0:17:34 > 0:17:38There are lots of devices that I've seen used by criminals,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40including a full fascia,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42which went over the entire cash machine.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44So, if there's any additional objects,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48or insecure things attached to it, then have some concerns about that.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Are there any loose wires? Is there something that appears to be hanging
0:17:52 > 0:17:56from the machine that doesn't look like an average ATM machine?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59If there is an issue with the cash machine, and your card is
0:17:59 > 0:18:02swallowed, you might suddenly get a very helpful stranger, so just
0:18:02 > 0:18:05be wary that that person might actually be involved in the scam.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07If your card's been swallowed, contact the bank
0:18:07 > 0:18:10and, if you think it's a scam, contact the police.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18I wonder what burglars do when they go on holiday?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Do they take a day off from crime? Or do they carry on
0:18:20 > 0:18:23with their day job and bring home stolen souvenirs?
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Bridlington, Yorkshire.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Late night at a Chinese takeaway.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34A customer walks in and up to the counter.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36But this man's going to take away
0:18:36 > 0:18:39something more valuable than a Chinese meal.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42He's a burglar!
0:18:42 > 0:18:44When we saw this footage,
0:18:44 > 0:18:48we felt our blood literally run cold, cos someone had crept
0:18:48 > 0:18:52up into our private quarters while we were still there.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The coastal town of Bridlington
0:19:00 > 0:19:03attracts tourists in the busy summer months.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08It's also home to Michael's family, who run this Chinese restaurant.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09Our whole family's involved.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It started when we had a trailer and then,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15my mum eventually saved up enough money to buy this place.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18The restaurant's thrived, serving food that's authentic,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21because it's cooked by a real Chinese chef.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Yang comes over to England to cook while his wife
0:19:23 > 0:19:25and family live in China.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Our chefs actually live above the restaurant.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Yang has been working with us for eight years, so, essentially,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33he is part of our extended family.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35The restaurant is open till late at night,
0:19:35 > 0:19:41so the family's installed CCTV, but there's never been any trouble.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42That is...
0:19:42 > 0:19:44until the Tuesday night in August,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48when this man walks into the takeaway part of the restaurant.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It's late. The main restaurant has closed
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and the family are eating their own supper in the restaurant area,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57just the other side of the door on the right.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Takeaway customers normally ring for staff to come
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and take their order, but this man doesn't.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The bell didn't ring and we didn't think anyone came in.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09He seems interested in the stairs
0:20:09 > 0:20:11leading to the chef's living quarters.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13After taking a good look behind the counter,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16the man suddenly head upstairs.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21And a few minutes later, he creeps back down, clutching a laptop.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24He pauses to listen for a moment.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Then hurries back out onto the street.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29When the family finish their supper,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33chef Yang goes back to his room and he gets a shock!
0:20:33 > 0:20:37He was obviously panicked, so he ran downstairs and he shouted at us,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39"My laptop and my phone's gone!"
0:20:39 > 0:20:43For Yang, so far from home, it's like losing a lifeline.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46He was very distressed, because, working here from China,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49it's the only way he can contact his wife and his family.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Michael calls the police and then checks back on the CCTV.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59When we saw this footage, we felt our blood literally run cold,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03cos someone had crept up into our private quarters
0:21:03 > 0:21:05while we were still there!
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Michael is determined to find out who this burglar is.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13He shows the footage to a friend who works at the nearby pizza place.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14And he's in luck.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18His friend recognises the thief from earlier that evening.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21He told me he had been a bit... a bit lairy,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24just really there to make a nuisance of himself.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26But nobody knows the man's identity,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and neither do the police when they arrive.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Bridlington's not a big place
0:21:31 > 0:21:34and they're fairly sure he's not a local.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Michael shares the pictures around town, so there's
0:21:36 > 0:21:40a lot of people looking out for the man and the stolen goods.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43And they were all really disgusted, cos, you know,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47this is quite a small town and we all know each other,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51and our regulars obviously felt really sorry for us.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53And then, a few days later,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Michael gets a surprise call from his friend at the pizza place.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01And he says, "I've seen the guy! The guy who stole the laptop!
0:22:01 > 0:22:04"I'm hid in the bus stop looking at him right now."
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Michael's friend has already called 999 and keeps the man in sight.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11The police arrive and arrest him.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Michael gets the news.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16We're like, "Great, what about the laptop and the phone?"
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And they said, immediately, that he
0:22:19 > 0:22:22had already said that he would be willing to give them back.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Yang is very relieved.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27He was absolutely over the moon,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31cos it's practically being reunited with your family.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34And there's a reason nobody knows the man, because it turns out
0:22:34 > 0:22:38he's in Bridlington on holiday with his family.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44In court, the man pleads guilty to burglary
0:22:44 > 0:22:47and is sentenced to two years and five months in prison.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Since the theft, Yang the chef makes sure he locks his door.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58And behind another locked door, this burglar must be regretting
0:22:58 > 0:23:00he never finished his short holiday,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04because now, he's going to be away from home a lot longer,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07serving time somewhere they don't serve takeaways.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Back to Bacup, East Lancashire.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22And the attempted armed robbery at a shop and post office.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Unusually, the raiders appear to be a man and a woman.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Shopkeepers, Sunny and Komal, have been held up at gunpoint,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34but they have bravely refused to hand over any money.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36And when Sunny presses the alarm button,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38the panicked robbers take off.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Detective Constable Haydn Sibley is investigating the case.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Mr and Mrs Goplani were very shook up, which is understandable.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Mr Goplani's has a firearm
0:23:48 > 0:23:49pushed in his face.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53It's been a terrifying ordeal! And afterwards, the couple realise
0:23:53 > 0:23:56how the robbery could've had a very different outcome.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01When we had time to ourselves, then it started sinking in.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04It was really shocking and frightening, you know. I was
0:24:04 > 0:24:09also thinking, "What would happen if anybody was hurt?" you know.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11The following day, they're still shaken,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14but Sunny and Komal are determined to carry on.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18When I woke up the next day morning, then I cried first time.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22It went into my... You know. ..head, like, "What has happened?"
0:24:22 > 0:24:26And I thought, "OK, no, we have to now forget this,"
0:24:26 > 0:24:30or keep it aside, otherwise, if we lose confidence,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34then you just lose it, you know, there's no point.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36They open up as usual the next day.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41At the same time, the police are doing all they can
0:24:41 > 0:24:45to catch this pair of criminals who are armed and potentially dangerous.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48We don't know what they're capable of and how far
0:24:48 > 0:24:50they're willing to go to get the money they need.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54We need to catch them before they go and commit another offence.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Scenes of crime officers scoured the shop for traces of fingerprints
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and DNA evidence, but they draw a blank.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Haydn studies the shop's CCTV and he notices,
0:25:04 > 0:25:08at one point during the robbery, the gunman's mask slips.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13The face covering lowers, which means we can see his face,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16giving us a chance of catching the subject.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20It's vital evidence. Now, with clear images from the CCTV,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23police can circulate the pictures around the local area,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27to see if anyone recognises the robbers or their clothing.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Because Bacup is such a tightknit community,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34word spread very fast about what had happened at the post office.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I think Mr and Mrs Goplani are very well liked in the area.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40We did receive some vital community information.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Two names are put forward to the police.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45The suspects - a man and a woman - are arrested
0:25:45 > 0:25:48and brought in for questioning.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Both were interviewed at Burnley Police Station.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Both denied the offence in interview.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Police have a clear CCTV image of a man with a gun and, when the
0:25:57 > 0:26:02male suspect is shown the footage, it's evidence that's hard to deny.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Seeing this, he admitted his part in the offence.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09They got their man!
0:26:09 > 0:26:11But what about the woman?
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Haydn has no solid evidence that links her to the crime.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17He turns back to the CCTV.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18They suspect at the door is
0:26:18 > 0:26:21holding the hood of their jumper around their mouth.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24That person was shouting and demanding money.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Haydn knows the missing jumper is the vital evidence he needs.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30If we recover that clothing,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33that person's saliva will be on the inside of that hoodie.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Then there's a breakthrough!
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Police track down a bag hidden by the pair after the robbery,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41containing items used in the raid.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43This weapon and the clothing
0:26:43 > 0:26:48were hidden in a black bin bag at the rear of an associate's address.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49It's a metal air pistol
0:26:49 > 0:26:52and, if this is pointed in your face in an aggressive manner -
0:26:52 > 0:26:54like it was during this offence -
0:26:54 > 0:26:57you're going to be extremely frightened.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58And most important?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01The woman's hoodie is amongst the recovered clothes.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04It is an exact match. We have the stripes down the shoulders
0:27:04 > 0:27:07and we have the blue piping around the waist.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11It's sent to the forensic lab to see if it has traces of DNA.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13And it does!
0:27:14 > 0:27:16With both suspects identified,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19they are charged with attempted armed robbery.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27In court, the two raiders are sentenced to six years in prison.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Haydn's pleased with the outcome.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35You don't often get a six-year sentence, but this is a violent case
0:27:35 > 0:27:39involving a firearm and I think the sentence is justified.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Well, he's doing a wonderful job. Excellent job.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Sunny and Komal have received
0:27:45 > 0:27:48a lot of support from neighbours and customers.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50They're determined not to let the incident
0:27:50 > 0:27:52spoil their enjoyment of running their shop.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56We will stay, because we both love our jobs.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Mind you, Komal's not too happy about something else
0:27:59 > 0:28:02she noticed watching that CCTV -
0:28:02 > 0:28:07proof that Sunny has a habit of sneaking secret snacks.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08- Whenever it's quiet...- Yeah.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- ..he always keeps eating.- Eating. - HE LAUGHS
0:28:11 > 0:28:14People always asking, "What, are you eating?"
0:28:14 > 0:28:16- "I'm hungry! That's why I'm eating." - LAUGHTER
0:28:22 > 0:28:24That's it for today. Join us next time
0:28:24 > 0:28:28when police, and the public, catch more criminals red-handed.