0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13To cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour, the police
0:00:13 > 0:00:16and other agencies are using new tactics and technology,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19where the bad guys are getting caught in the act.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20CCTV was vital.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22You can see they are definitely the people there.
0:00:22 > 0:00:23The camera doesn't lie.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Local councils, shops and businesses
0:00:25 > 0:00:27are laying some traps of their own.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29There's a eureka moment when you get that evidence.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31And the general public, too,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34can help unsuspecting crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36People won't stand by.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38I couldn't sit back and do nothing.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Yes! We've got her.
0:00:40 > 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, an armed robber on the run.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59He raids shop after shop, threatening victims with a gun.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01And boasts about it.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03This is just goading the police by wearing this T-shirt.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07He isn't going to be stopping till the police catch up with him.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Also today, the peaceful British countryside,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13where sheep may safely graze...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16RECORD SCRATCHES But no chance of that here.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Just beggars belief, really.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21And one cause is this yellow-bellied tipper,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24a careless creature who ruins his habitat
0:01:24 > 0:01:26with rubbish that can kill.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Young lambs or larger livestock choking on plastic
0:01:29 > 0:01:31that they've ingested.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36And a shop with a glass door - easy pickings for a pair of burglars.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37But not this time.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39It's a locksmith's shop,
0:01:39 > 0:01:40so they could to be here for a while.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53An armed robber is on a rampage
0:01:53 > 0:01:55in Stockport holding up stores.
0:01:55 > 0:01:56Had a man
0:01:56 > 0:02:00out there pointing firearms in people's faces.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04In just two weeks, he commits 19 raids.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06He hands over threatening notes...
0:02:07 > 0:02:09..terrifying his victims.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Anything could've happened to her.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Immediately, I felt intimidated.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Completely intimidated.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19He even taunts the police. But the manhunt is on.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Stockport, Greater Manchester.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Detective Sergeant Steve Hartley
0:02:30 > 0:02:34and Detective Constable Lee McCarthy are working over the August
0:02:34 > 0:02:36bank holiday weekend.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Reports start to flood in of a spate of walk-in robberies at shops
0:02:40 > 0:02:42and businesses.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46It's the start of one of the biggest cases in their careers.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49The first crime in the series which was one of the most serious
0:02:49 > 0:02:53and aggressive crimes that was committed by the offender
0:02:53 > 0:02:56started off as him entering an independent convenience store.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02It's captured on the store's CCTV security cameras.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07At 6pm on the Saturday, a cyclist arrives at the shop and strolls in.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11The young woman is on her own in the shop.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The man picks up a bag of crisps and goes to the counter.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19He seems to be counting out his money, ready to pay.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23But, actually, he's waiting for the assistant to open the till.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And when she does, in a sudden, shocking movement,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30the man pulls out a gun and points it straight at her.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33And while she backs away, terrified,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36he reaches in and grabs ?400 from the till.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Then, calmly getting back on his bike, the robber leaves the shop and
0:03:42 > 0:03:45a very frightened young woman.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47This must've been horrendous for her.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Having seen this footage,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53we had a man out there pointing firearms in people's faces.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56It was important that we found this person as soon as possible.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59They're helped by some high-quality CCTV.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03The store have positioned these cameras in such a way
0:04:03 > 0:04:07that it makes it easier for us to conduct an investigation.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09With an armed robber on the loose,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12the police launch an extensive search.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15But it's not long before another shop is targeted.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18This time, it's a family business run by Julie.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23It's not her real name, she has asked us not to reveal her identity.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We've been established there for 30 years. It's my mum and dad's shop.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30My dad passed away, so it's passed down to the family.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34It's just a little convenience store on an estate serving
0:04:34 > 0:04:35the local community.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40We don't get trouble. Customers are lovely. We know everyone there.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I don't think we've ever had something like this.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Julie's security camera shows how, a few days before the bank holiday,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51this man first entered her store.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54She remembers him because he'd set her on edge.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Immediately, I felt intimidated.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01The way he acted, his eyes were darting around everywhere.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Didn't look normal.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05You were on red alert straightaway.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06For whatever reason,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09this time the man just walks away.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13But Julie tells her family and staff to keep an eye out for him.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15But on this bank holiday, Monday afternoon,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17he comes back.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21My mum was at the till. We had a member of staff upstairs.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23As it's a family business,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Julie's mum regularly does shifts at the store.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29My mum was just serving the customers as usual.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Julie's mum has no idea
0:05:31 > 0:05:35that this man in the queue committed an armed robbery two days earlier.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37He buys a packet of cigarette papers.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40But again, it's just a cheap way for him
0:05:40 > 0:05:43to get a good look at the till and what's in it.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47He then asks for a box of matches.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50This time, when Julie's mum opens the till,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52he seizes a bundle of cash.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Mum slams the top lid down as quickly as she could,
0:05:57 > 0:05:58but it was too late.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03He gets away with around ?100,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and that's a lot of money to take from Julie's family.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08It's your living at the end of the day.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11It feeds you, it clothes you, it gives you shelter,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13it gives you a roof over your head.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17For someone to come in and do that, it's...so wrong.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Julie's particularly upset that her mum's had to face
0:06:22 > 0:06:24such a frightening experience.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28I think that she was in shock. Scared. Really intimidated.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Sort of, right, is something like this going to happen again?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It's not fair on her at all. I mean, she's nearly 70.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37You just want to protect her.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Makes you feel ill inside.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42The robber behaves so confidently
0:06:42 > 0:06:45that the police feel it's likely he could already
0:06:45 > 0:06:47be on their books for some reason.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49They search the force database.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52From the CCTV images that we've managed to seize,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56we put certain attributes into the computer - his hair colour,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00height, age range, offending behaviour
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and also the area the offence has been committed.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05A name is put forward.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07The computer gave me a number of results,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11and one of the results I had back was Peter Thomas.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12It's a breakthrough.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15They're confident Peter Thomas is the culprit.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17But they have no current address for him.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21Meanwhile, the robber's crimes start to escalate.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Over the next few days, he hits a succession of businesses,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28and he's come up with a new way to intimidate his victims.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Now, he hands over threatening notes to demand money
0:07:32 > 0:07:35telling staff he's carrying a gun.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37The notes suggest serious harm will come to the people
0:07:37 > 0:07:40if they didn't do what they were told.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42He also would have his hands in his pockets,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45insinuating that he had a firearm with him.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47I can't imagine how frightened these people were
0:07:47 > 0:07:49when this was happening to them.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53But these notes are a mistake. They give the police a lead.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55He leaves one of them behind after a raid
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and police send it off for fingerprint analysis.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Results confirm it is Peter Thomas.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05But while Thomas is careless about hiding his identity,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09he does go to great lengths to conceal his whereabouts.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10It was a game of cat and mouse.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13He was constantly moving around, booking into hotels under
0:08:13 > 0:08:17different names, paying with cash - proceeds from his crimes.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20So we're always one or two steps behind.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Thomas embarks on a grand theft tour of the North West of England.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Popping up in Blackpool, Preston,
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Bolton.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33And for one robbery, Thomas puts on this T-shirt.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36This is just goading the police by wearing this T-shirt.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40He knows he's wanted, he knows he's committing these offences.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42It shows a blatant disrespect for law and order,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46for the people subjected to these crimes.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49But all the time police officers are scouring the streets, gaining
0:08:49 > 0:08:53intelligence, building up a picture of his movements.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55The net is closing in.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59But Thomas' behaviour becomes even more erratic.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01At this bookmakers,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05he hands over a threatening note to the woman behind the counter.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07But he gets impatient waiting
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and he launches himself at her.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14He grabs what he can from the till.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16It's a disturbing turn of events.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18His nature is more aggressive.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19He's come towards the sales assistant
0:09:19 > 0:09:21and she's had nowhere to go at that time.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22She's been boxed in.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Anything could have happened to her.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27That was extremely worrying for the investigation team
0:09:27 > 0:09:32because now he didn't appear to be in as much control as he used to be.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34I'd be faithful if he carried on that he might commit
0:09:34 > 0:09:37acts of violence and cause somebody serious harm.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42But Thomas' increasing desperation is also making him careless,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and police get another important lead.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47He had taken a taxi out of the area.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51We managed to trace the person who drove him
0:09:51 > 0:09:53to a particular area of Manchester.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56They flood the district with undercover officers
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and soon they get a tip-off.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03And then the inquiries on the ground by some covert officers were able to
0:10:03 > 0:10:07identify an address where he was later located.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Holed up in a flat, Thomas is surprised in a police raid,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and he is arrested.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14They also find an imitation gun.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17At the end of his two-week spree,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20he's committed a total of 19 offences.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Steve and Lee have collected a large amount of CCTV images,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28forensic proof and witness statements.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31It pays off when they confront Thomas.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33The evidence was so overwhelming,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37it actually made him admit to each and every crime that we put to him.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40The best thing about that is that he doesn't put any of the victims
0:10:40 > 0:10:43or witnesses through the ordeal of having a court case or
0:10:43 > 0:10:44a trial hanging over him.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52In court, Peter Thomas is sentenced to a total of 12 years.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Thomas brought terror to his victims.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Although his gun was a fake, they weren't to know.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Our worry was this person was not going to stop offending
0:11:04 > 0:11:06until the police caught up with him.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08I think the result was a great result.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10We couldn't really hope for much more.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It'll be a long time before he'll be able to get on the streets again.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17It's good news for his victims, like Julie and her mum.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Very relieved. Very relieved he's locked up.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Of all the places a burglar may choose to break into, you'd imagine
0:11:31 > 0:11:34a locksmith's would be pretty low on the list, wouldn't you?
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Two men stroll up to a local locksmiths shop in Evesham.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45But, at nearly 4am,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49it's unlikely they're wanting a key cut or a heel repair.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51And their real purpose becomes clear
0:11:51 > 0:11:55when one of them tries to crowbar the door open.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59But as you might expect, this shop has a rather strong lock on it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Frustrated, the would-be burglar smashes a window pane
0:12:04 > 0:12:07and tries to open the door from the inside.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11But locksmiths know a thing or two, and they've fitted a lock
0:12:11 > 0:12:14that can't be turned from the inside either.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16His accomplice wants a go.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Maybe he has a cunning plan.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20No.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24He simply flaps about a bit with his hand. Not so cunning.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Time for brute force then - an attempt to kick the door in.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30What, with trainers on?
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Well, here he goes...
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Oh, no.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35The pair run off hotfooted
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and probably sore-footed, too.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41The locksmiths hope someone will recognise the man
0:12:41 > 0:12:44in the batman hat and his accomplice,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48and will lead Batman and, uh, Robbing to a police station.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Although, knowing their ability to pick targets,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54it won't be long before they try breaking into one of those, too.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Watching that pair struggle may have been comical,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04but the important thing is they gave up trying.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08And that tells us something when it comes to protecting our own homes.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Good locks. Mortise locks, deadlocks.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Have more than one and make sure you actually use them.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16If we've got gravel paths
0:13:16 > 0:13:18or perhaps a warning sound
0:13:18 > 0:13:21when the doors open to bell chime
0:13:21 > 0:13:23or an alarm system that creates
0:13:23 > 0:13:25a really loud sound for our neighbours to be aware
0:13:25 > 0:13:27that someone has entered the property.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Or even a squeaky gate that might annoy us
0:13:29 > 0:13:31but alerts the neighbour to the fact that there's someone
0:13:31 > 0:13:33attacking your property while you're on holiday.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35If you can't afford to put
0:13:35 > 0:13:36an electronic alarm up, then
0:13:36 > 0:13:38there are products on the market now
0:13:38 > 0:13:39which is just the dummy box
0:13:39 > 0:13:41fitted to the side of the house
0:13:41 > 0:13:43and looks like any other alarm.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The other thing is, put your valuables where they wouldn't look.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48So, you know, put them in your children's cupboards,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52for example, or under your stairs in an old box.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Don't make it obvious.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03A heartless crime when this man steals from people in need.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Well, it's the lowest of the low, isn't it?
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But there's a bizarre turn days later when the thief comes back.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12What he does next is beyond belief.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Just so crazy.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Towns and cities are fighting a constant battle
0:14:22 > 0:14:23to keep litter off the streets.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26But it can be the scourge of the countryside as well,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29where it's not just unsightly, but it also causes serious damage.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40The beautiful unspoilt landscape of County Durham
0:14:40 > 0:14:44is enjoyed by visitors and local residents alike.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47It's an absolutely idyllic area.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48But, unfortunately,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52parts of this countryside are not completely unspoilt.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54They're under attack...
0:14:54 > 0:14:57from people dumping rubbish.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59This has arrived over the last few days.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01It's just terrible, isn't it? It's just terrible.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Livestock and wildlife are being put in danger.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06This farm has experienced loss of young lambs
0:15:06 > 0:15:09choking on plastic that they've ingested.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12But councils are waging war against the culprits
0:15:12 > 0:15:15using secret surveillance technology...
0:15:15 > 0:15:18We try to put the cameras in the best place possible.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21..to dump the dumpers themselves in court.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Around 70% of land in the UK is agricultural,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33so if someone illegally tips waste in the countryside,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37there's a good chance it's damaging a farmer's property.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40James Copeland works for the National Farmer's Union.
0:15:40 > 0:15:41Fly-tipping is a national issue.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43It affects two-thirds of farmers.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45There's about 850,000
0:15:45 > 0:15:46instances every year.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48That's one every 37 seconds.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50It's a staggering amount.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54As well as farms, rubbish is also dumped on public land,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58and it's become a big problem in one area west of Durham.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Ian Hoult works for Durham County Council.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Anybody that has fly-tipping landing on their land has got
0:16:04 > 0:16:06an obligation to clear it up,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and private landowners
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and the council are the same
0:16:10 > 0:16:13in that way. And, of course, it costs money.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Here in Durham, it costs us something like ?500,000,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19so it's a significant amount of money.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21So everyone in the UK is paying
0:16:21 > 0:16:23to clear up the mess these people make.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Fly-tipping isn't a victimless crime. It is affecting everyone.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30In County Durham, visitors and residents are fed up.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Why? Why do they do this?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35If they've come this far to actually dump the rubbish,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38why can't they just go that little bit further to a tip?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41In fact, the tip might well be closer. You know?
0:16:41 > 0:16:42It just beggars belief, really.
0:16:42 > 0:16:48Ian's on his way to visit an area continually hit by illegal dumpers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50The location that we're heading towards
0:16:50 > 0:16:52is a really beautiful rural lane.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54It's got beautiful views across the valley.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58It leads to a local farmer's land. And, of course, fly-tipping causes
0:16:58 > 0:17:00all sorts of problems for them.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Livestock are affected,
0:17:03 > 0:17:04as are other animals.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07This farmer has experienced loss of livestock.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Young lambs choking on plastic that they've ingested or larger
0:17:10 > 0:17:13livestock not being able to feed and basically have to be put down.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17At least this time it's been spotted and will be cleared away.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20So we' re just arriving here now.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24There's a fly-tipped fridge and looks like a television.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26So I'm just going to go check it out.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30This rubbish is being dumped on both public and farmland,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and some of it contains potentially harmful chemicals.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It's just terrible, isn't it? It's just terrible.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40It kind of looks like a commercial fridge.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43I'm not sure, we might need somebody to help manoeuvre that to see
0:17:43 > 0:17:46if we can get a serial number off the back.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49But kind of in the meantime, we're going to make sure that
0:17:49 > 0:17:52we let people know that it is being investigated.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Ian's determined to crack down on the tippers,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57but to prosecute, he needs evidence.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02And recently, he's had success using hidden cameras.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04We've got a couple of different types of cameras.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06This one is what they call a bullet lens.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Great for shooting in low light.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12And we've also got a semi-camouflaged piece of kit.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14They're both motion censored, so whenever somebody passes,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17you capture footage at that point in time.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Ian hides the cameras where he's most likely to catch
0:18:20 > 0:18:22a fly-tipper in the act.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24We look to get the best mixture of the broad vision,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26so you can pick up what was actually getting dumped,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28and we also want to get specifics -
0:18:28 > 0:18:31so we want to get the registration plate, we want to get the details.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35He even puts up signs to warn people that cameras are recording.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40But it's not long before there's another offence.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Within a week of the cameras being deployed,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45we were back up here taking the memory stick out
0:18:45 > 0:18:49and making sure that we were able to download that footage.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Ian studies the recording.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54The camera's been triggered by this man.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01He casually dumps garden furniture and waste
0:19:01 > 0:19:03as if he was at a rubbish tip.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09That table even looks like it could be recycled.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13He's spoiling the countryside and committing a crime.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17There's always mixed feelings when you see footage like this.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21There is the feeling that we've got the registration plate...
0:19:21 > 0:19:24You can't help but feel gutted at the same time
0:19:24 > 0:19:26that actually somebody wants to go
0:19:26 > 0:19:29and put that sort of waste in the open air.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31It could have all have been recycled.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32The man heads off,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34but he's not finished.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39Ten minutes later, he's back with more junk.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I struggle to comprehend it, really.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The impact that that has on this locality is enormous.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48With the camera footage as evidence,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Ian and his team can find and confront the fly-tipper.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53We went to do a door knock.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55We firstly cautioned him, we then presented him
0:19:55 > 0:19:59with some stills of the footage that we got with his registration plate,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01with a picture of him,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04so he admitted it and then we prosecuted him.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09In court, the man pleads guilty
0:20:09 > 0:20:13and is ordered to pay fines and costs of almost ?400.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17A lot of money considering he could have got
0:20:17 > 0:20:20rid of his waste for free in a legal way.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23He also now has a criminal record.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I think it's important that, hopefully, he's learned his lesson
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and other people have learned their lesson, too.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30News of the prosecution spreads
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and hopefully deters others from illegally dumping.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35It was pleasing to see the prosecution
0:20:35 > 0:20:37and the support from the community -
0:20:37 > 0:20:39the impact that that has had on social media.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42It's bonded the community to basically say that we're not
0:20:42 > 0:20:45accepting fly-tipping and that people are actually looking now how
0:20:45 > 0:20:47they can make sure that what they are doing
0:20:47 > 0:20:49in the disposal of their waste doesn't affect the countryside.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53But there's still more work to be done.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54Ian's mission has inspired
0:20:54 > 0:20:56a county-wide partnership against fly-tipping -
0:20:56 > 0:20:59a campaign called Operation Stop It.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We've got two focuses in terms of the campaign.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04The first one is about helping householders understand that
0:21:04 > 0:21:09if you give a man and a van 50 quid, do you really know where it's gone?
0:21:09 > 0:21:11And we want residents to be part of this and make sure
0:21:11 > 0:21:13that they're asking the right questions.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15And the second part of the campaign
0:21:15 > 0:21:17is targeting those people that are carrying waste.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21So we're looking to make sure that Durham remains a beautiful place.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Ian and his colleagues are also arming themselves with many
0:21:24 > 0:21:28more cameras, so fly-tippers beware!
0:21:32 > 0:21:33All thefts have victims,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36but stealing from somebody who is sick or vulnerable
0:21:36 > 0:21:38is particularly cold-hearted.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Whitley Bay on the northeast coast of England.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53A customer walks into a shop and looks around.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58This is a charity shop that raises money to help sufferers of a rare
0:21:58 > 0:21:59and painful disease.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02But this customer isn't here to give,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04he's here to take.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09And he helps himself to a valuable computer tablet on display.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Every penny counts,
0:22:11 > 0:22:16and that ?50 would have gone to one of the sufferers.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Locals are outraged by the theft.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Well, it's the lowest of the low, isn't it?
0:22:21 > 0:22:25But just over a week later, events take a bizarre turn.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Just seemed so weird. I've never known it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31The thief returns to the scene of the crime,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34but this time the staff are ready for him.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Eric Duffield co-founded this charity in 2003
0:22:43 > 0:22:48after learning about a local man with a rare disease, Jonny Kennedy.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I saw this documentary on Channel 4 called
0:22:51 > 0:22:53The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57and it followed Jonny on his last four months of his life.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Jonny suffered from an incurable skin condition
0:23:00 > 0:23:04called epidermolysis bullosa, or EB,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08where the skin is so fragile that the slightest touch causes damage.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12In spite of his poor health, though, Jonny lived life to the full.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17And I thought if he could go through life with pain
0:23:17 > 0:23:22and still do the things a normal person wouldn't do,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25I had nothing but total admiration.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29It gave me that drive to help this charity the best way I could.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32That's 4.50, please. Do you want a bag?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Since then, sadly, Jonny's passed away.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Eric and his team of volunteers have carried on raising
0:23:37 > 0:23:40money for other sufferers to buy specialist equipment
0:23:40 > 0:23:43and treats, like birthday presents and days out.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44It means a lot to them
0:23:44 > 0:23:48because it means they can escape the pain and enjoy themselves.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52The charity is dependent on income from the shop.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Fortunately, the local community are generous
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and volunteers like Stephen enjoy helping out.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01We all get on great with each other, you know.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Which is, I think, a good thing, you know,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06to be happy in your job. Whether you're getting paid or not paid,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09it's nice to be appreciated for what you do.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12But criminals have little respect for charity.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16The shop has fallen victim to thieves 11 times since it opened.
0:24:16 > 0:24:21I don't think anybody expects a charity shop to be targeted,
0:24:21 > 0:24:27and it was disheartening. But the community rallied round 100%.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30And they said, "Look, don't let it get you down."
0:24:30 > 0:24:33And I don't. I don't.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37But Eric does take action and invests in a security system.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41For a while, it seems to be working as a deterrent...
0:24:41 > 0:24:43until one day
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Eric gets a call from the shop staff saying that a computer tablet
0:24:46 > 0:24:49has disappeared from the window display.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51And I thought, "Oh, no, here we go again."
0:24:51 > 0:24:56But this time, Eric has an extra pair of eyes - a CCTV recording...
0:24:58 > 0:25:01..and this is what he sees.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04A man walks into the shop.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07A member of staff is tidying up by the window.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11The man heads further into the store to look at some clothes,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15but it's something more valuable that's really caught his eye.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19The moment the coast is clear, the man makes a beeline for the window
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and the computer tablet.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Obviously, he has seen it from the outside, so he knows exactly
0:25:27 > 0:25:29what he's going for.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32He takes a sneaky look to see if he's being watched...
0:25:34 > 0:25:38..then reaches into the window to take the tablet.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42He pretends to continue browsing.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44He looks back at the window as a decoy, basically.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46He's just standing there.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Moments later, the man drops the tablet into his bag.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Stealing from anywhere is a crime,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58but to steal from a charity, it really, really annoys me.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02This brazen thief even pauses to chat with a member of staff
0:26:02 > 0:26:06and carries on wandering round the shop like an ordinary customer.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11But then, on reaching the back, he notices a CCTV camera.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13He hasn't counted on that.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18He looks up at the camera and he thinks, "Oh, my God!"
0:26:18 > 0:26:20But it still doesn't deter him.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24He doesn't panic, he just walks out.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28But it's not just a recording of his face he's left behind.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31The tablet needs a stylus pen to work,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34and that's still sitting in the window.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Eric takes the CCTV footage to the police
0:26:37 > 0:26:39and the theft is reported in the local paper.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43But then, eight days later,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45there's a strange turn of events.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47The thief comes back to the shop.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51He's apparently trying to re-donate the tablet.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Without that stylus, it's probably been pretty useless.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56But immediately, he's recognised.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58When I saw the tablet and this guy standing there, I thought,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02"Ah, he fits the description, there's the tablet that was pinched.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05"Ah, that must be him," and I just stood eye to eye.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Stephen keeps a watch on the man while a colleague calls Eric.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10He's out shopping in the town.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Luckily enough, there was a police officer standing outside the
0:27:13 > 0:27:15shopping centre, so I pulled him in.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Eric and the officer race to the charity shop.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19The man's still there.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Then I saw his face, "What's happened here?"
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I think he realised then what he had done.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28He was immediately arrested and taken away and charged.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Eric can't be sure why the man tried to donate the tablet
0:27:31 > 0:27:32back to the charity.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Did he have a guilty conscience? Had somebody told him?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37We don't know.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38But to use the excuse,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41"I didn't realise I had it."
0:27:41 > 0:27:43It's just so crazy!
0:27:48 > 0:27:50In court, the man is found guilty
0:27:50 > 0:27:54and is ordered to pay ?180 in fines and costs.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59But that's not the end of the story.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03When news reaches the local community,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06they rally round to support the charity.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09People were just so generous.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11One of the biggest donations from a lady,
0:28:11 > 0:28:18she donated ?5,000, and we were totally gobsmacked.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23And then we had received cheques for ?50, ?100, ?1,000,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26which means we can help more people.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32That's it for today.
0:28:32 > 0:28:33Join us next time when police
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and the public catch more criminals...red-handed.