0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cash, our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08just about anything they can get their hands on.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14But now the police are using cutting-edge technology to catch the bad guys.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16CCTV is gold dust.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Great evidence for the police.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Got to have him stopped.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Local councils, shops and businesses are fighting crime
0:00:23 > 0:00:25with their own tricks and traps.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27There's a eureka moment when you get that evidence.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31And the public are using secret cameras to make sure
0:00:31 > 0:00:33crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35It makes me feel so angry.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38He's paid the price. He's been dealt with.
0:00:38 > 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 > 0:00:55Today, barman David thought he was in for a quiet night...
0:00:56 > 0:01:00..but then suddenly, three armed men come into his club.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04I was very frightened, scared witless, to be fair.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09The robbers demand to be taken to the safe and they aren't taking no for an answer.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12They forced me to walk in first,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14followed by this great big scaffold pole behind my head.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18I thought, my life's going to come shattering between my eyes in a minute.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Also today, local councillor Ken loves his garden bench.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30But unfortunately for him, a local thief seems to love it too.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33One of the things that surprised me was the speed of the crime.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The thief just sauntered up the path, there was no furtive looks,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38in fact if he'd had a few furtive looks,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41he might have seen there was CCTV cameras.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Ken has a plan to get his bench back with the help of the police,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47who get a bit more than they bargained for.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53And Brendan runs a restaurant called The Unruly Pig, but one weekend,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56it's some unruly customers that are doing the running.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01First, a couple eat it and beat it without paying.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Literally legging it over the wall of the decking area
0:02:04 > 0:02:06with bottle in hand.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10And then, why are six people making a mad dash into the woods?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Heavens above, look at what on earth has happened here.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Soon, the police arrive.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Is someone about to get their just deserts?
0:02:28 > 0:02:32The Stick and Wicket sports club in the sleepy town of Aldridge
0:02:32 > 0:02:36is one of the last places you'd expect to be hit by armed robbers.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40It's been run by Andy and his wife, Kath, for almost 30 years and
0:02:40 > 0:02:43specialises in cricket and hockey.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Andy was introduced to the club as a member by his mother in the 1980s.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The first time I came up here, my mother played hockey here.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52She used to volunteer behind the bar.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Then I volunteered behind the bar.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58And from there on in, I took over the stewardship of the club,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01my wife is the stewardess, so she does the catering.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Everybody's happy-go-lucky, we all get on well,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06it's just a nice place to be.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Andy and Kath live near to the club,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11along with 22-year-old daughter Chloe,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13who also works behind the bar.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17My fondest memories do include all my birthday parties that I've had here.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19I've had loads, ever since I was tiny,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22at school, right up until my 18th and 21st.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The clubhouse is like my second living room,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29so all the members of the club, they become your extended family.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33One member of that extended family is long-serving barman David.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Andy, Kath and Chloe are just the best thing since sliced bread.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41I wouldn't change them for the world.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44I love them to pieces and I'd do absolutely anything for them.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46I've known David my whole life.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49He used to play cricket and then he ended up working on the bar.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52He's worked on the bar for about 15 years now.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Been good fun. If I'm not at home, I'm here.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01They are a happy group of people, running a happy club.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Until one night, their peace of mind is shattered.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12It's a Thursday night in early January.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17Andy, Kath and Chloe had just got home after visiting family in Scotland.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I wasn't feeling particularly well all over Christmas and New Year,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24so I had something to eat and went to bed, basically.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26They ask David to run the bar that evening.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31The club's CCTV cameras record what happens next.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It's about 10:30pm and David's sitting down
0:04:35 > 0:04:37near the only two customers who are in.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42But as the cameras show, their evening is about to be interrupted
0:04:42 > 0:04:45in a shocking and violent manner.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Outside, a sinister group of hooded figures cross the cricket field.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Suddenly, they burst through the door of the club.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I saw three blokes walk in, with balaclavas on,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01scaffold poles in their hand.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03I thought, this ain't no joke.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I was very afraid.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Scared witless, to be fair.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Two of the men approach David and the customers.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16And force them to lie down on the floor.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20One of the customers is dragged and kicked in the head.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26I was thinking, what on earth am I going to do?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29With them scaffold poles, they can do some damage.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33The robbers take everyone's mobile phones,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36then they identify David as the barman
0:05:36 > 0:05:38and demand he opens the club safe.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42I wasn't exactly going to say, "No, I'm not going to open the safe for you."
0:05:42 > 0:05:44They frogmarch him to the office.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46I was petrified.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49He forced me to walk in first...
0:05:50 > 0:05:52..followed by this great big scaffold pole behind my head.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58I thought, my life's going to come shattering between my eyes in a minute.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04The robbers empty the contents of the safe, totalling over £1,500.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07He said, was there any more money about?
0:06:07 > 0:06:09I said no.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12David's brought back to where the customers are being held.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17The robbers leave the club...
0:06:20 > 0:06:22..jump into a getaway car...
0:06:24 > 0:06:25..and speed off.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It was scary, very scary.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32David rushes to Andy and Kath's house to raise the alarm.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34He was very shook up when he came to the door.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38We knew what had happened, just by looking at his face.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39He was obviously scared stiff.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41There were two other lads in there, both friends of ours.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43The first concern is, are they OK?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47The customers are shocked but safe.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Andy tells David that he handled the situation well.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54He said, "You did the right thing in giving it to them.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57"You should just do as they say, and not as you want."
0:06:57 > 0:07:01I would always encourage the staff not to attempt to stop those people.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Money can be replaced. People can't.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08They phone the police and then call Chloe so she's prepared
0:07:08 > 0:07:10for the scene when she arrives at the club.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13We pulled up, me and my boyfriend,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15and there was just police cars everywhere.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17The police walking around with sniffer dogs.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20We came inside and David was there.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23As soon as I walked in, I could tell by the look on his face
0:07:23 > 0:07:26that he was in shock. Obviously, you would be, you know.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27The police search the area
0:07:27 > 0:07:31and manage to recover David's and the customers' mobile phones
0:07:31 > 0:07:34that had been flung from the getaway car.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Detectives take the CCTV recording of the robbery to be analysed.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43They are on the trail of a gang that has committed a series of robberies in the area.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46It's just a case of being able to piece things together and
0:07:46 > 0:07:47hopefully catch them in the end.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53It's been a horrible ordeal for all of them, particularly David,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57but the next day a function has been booked at the club
0:07:57 > 0:07:59and they need to prepare for it.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02If something's on here, and we can do it, then we always do.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Even in light of what had happened.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08But I think it's very difficult to just switch off and put it behind you.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10You don't forget about it. You just...
0:08:11 > 0:08:14..block it out of your mind and just get on with it.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18He was really brave. He didn't particularly want to lock up that night,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20which is understandable.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I'm glad I faced the demons.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Several weeks go by at the sports club
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and then they get some very welcome news from the police.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Three robbers have been arrested,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38two brothers in their 20s and a 15-year-old juvenile.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We were really happy they'd been caught because obviously
0:08:40 > 0:08:43you're thinking, if they've done it once, they might come back again.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45So obviously, we were over the moon with that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49The police charge the suspects with conspiracy to commit robbery,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51which can carry a substantial sentence.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58I felt relieved they had been caught and charged because then they
0:08:58 > 0:09:00wouldn't do it to somebody else.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Together with other evidence,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06the club's CCTV footage helps the detectives build a compelling case
0:09:06 > 0:09:11against the suspects for conspiracy to commit a series of robberies.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13In the end, all three plead guilty.
0:09:16 > 0:09:22In court, the 15-year-old was sent to a detention centre for five years.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26The brothers were given a combined total of just under 20 years in prison
0:09:26 > 0:09:28for conspiring to commit their robberies.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Security at the sports club has now been tightened.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41We've had extra security lighting put all around the building.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44We have panic buttons which are directed straight to the police station.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46We've had an upgrade on the CCTV.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51We also tend to lock the door when there's only a few customers in,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53just to make it more secure.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57And David is now well and truly over what happened.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00It's a lovely club. Lovely people.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02So, it's onwards and upwards.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17This woman is eyeing up a large pink piggy bank.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21It's actually a collection box for a children's charity.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24But the woman's not interested in feeding the pig with a big donation.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Actually, she's aiming to take this little piggy all the way home.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Because she's a thief.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Having made sure no-one's watching, she comes back,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38ready to go the whole hog and get her hands on the cash.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44She uses her jacket as a blanket to hide the enormity of the crime.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Then, off she trots with the pig.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52But there's a twist to the tale.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55The thief's face has been recorded on camera.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59And when police put the footage out on the internet,
0:10:59 > 0:11:00somebody squeals on her.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05She ends up with an 18-month community order,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07which will give her plenty of time to reflect
0:11:07 > 0:11:10on how she's made a real pig's ear of things.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Burglars aren't just interested in what's inside our houses.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23Property in our garden shed,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26our backyards, and even right outside our front door
0:11:26 > 0:11:28is also vulnerable.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35A mysterious visitor late at night leads to an unpleasant surprise for
0:11:35 > 0:11:37a homeowner the following morning.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40But this thief has picked up a whole load of trouble.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Presumably we're looking for someone with a hernia,
0:11:44 > 0:11:45after carrying that about.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48You know, he must have struggled with that, really.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51This local town councillor decides to turn detective.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04The community of Newtown Aycliffe in County Durham has grown rapidly since World War II.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08It's now home to nearly 30,000 people
0:12:08 > 0:12:11and you're unlikely to find a prouder resident than Ken.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16Newtown Aycliffe is an absolutely brilliant place.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19As a young boy of 14, I watched my town grow.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23They were building estates, virtually every week there was something new going in.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27There are lots of things that have gone on here that are absolutely fantastic.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Ken was a process worker in a local factory, moulding plastics,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35until a bad back to its toll.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38As I retired through ill health, I had to find something to do
0:12:38 > 0:12:40because if you don't, your brain goes
0:12:40 > 0:12:42and that's the most important organ in your body.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45First, Ken started a local neighbourhood watch,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48then he set up a residents' association, and this year,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51he was officially elected as a town councillor.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56My back was fixed, I was raring to go, I've rejuvenated myself,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58so what do you do with your time?
0:12:58 > 0:13:00You put it into the community, give something back.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05And something that's proved useful in helping Ken keep in touch with his community
0:13:05 > 0:13:08has been this Jack and Jill garden bench.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Complete with ornamental fox Ferdinand,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13it has pride of place on his driveway.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15I view my bench as being my outside office.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19'It's very important that people are able to come and see me,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21'and nine times out of ten,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23'I can solve a lot of their problems just by talking to them'
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and they're quite happy to sit down and tell me their life stories.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32But not everybody who walks up Ken's drive is as public-spirited as he is.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35As he recently found out to his cost.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44It's a Sunday morning in summer and Ken is off to do a good deed,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46picking up litter with some friends.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48It's quite the social occasion.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I have a few friends and we meet every Sunday morning,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53we litter-pick in a local park.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56It's our way of giving something back.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59But after giving up a morning for the good of his fellow man,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Ken returns to find someone's taken something away from him.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06My wife says, "What have you done with the bench?"
0:14:07 > 0:14:09At which point, you look, don't you?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12And how can you explain a bench that just disappears?
0:14:12 > 0:14:13And who would want one?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Like any good neighbourhood watch man,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Ken has security cameras and he hopes these will show why
0:14:20 > 0:14:22he's suddenly bereft of his bench.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I never look at it but on this particular occasion,
0:14:25 > 0:14:26it was being very, very useful.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33According to Ken Cam, at 4:10 that morning,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35a man cycles past his drive.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Something in Ken's porch seems to catch his eye.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41After leaving his bike somewhere,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45he returns and walks up Ken's drive like a man with a mission.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Moments later, it's bye-bye, bench.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Presumably, we're looking for someone with a hernia
0:14:54 > 0:14:56after carrying that about.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58You know, he must have struggled with that, really.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The bench is gone in less than 20 seconds.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04One of the things that surprised me was the speed of the crime.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08The thief just sauntered up the path, there was no furtive looks.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09In fact, if he'd had a few furtive looks,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12he might certainly have seen there was CCTV cameras.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Ken isn't one for letting things lie and decides to contact the police.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23I must admit, I felt a little bit embarrassed talking to the control room
0:15:23 > 0:15:26to say I wanted to report a bench that had gone walkies.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27When the call comes in,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31police community support officer Steve Gill is on duty.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34It was a strange request to get a phone call to tell us
0:15:34 > 0:15:36that a bench had been stolen
0:15:36 > 0:15:39but it was great going to Ken's house, knowing that he's got CCTV
0:15:39 > 0:15:42because there was a spate of incidents
0:15:42 > 0:15:44around the area, so when CCTV is available
0:15:44 > 0:15:46and it shows someone doing something
0:15:46 > 0:15:51like that, then it opens up the doors for the other garden thefts.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Steve takes a copy of the footage to try and identify the thief.
0:15:55 > 0:16:01Meanwhile, Ken wants to do his bit to find the felon who took his Jack and Jill up the hill.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04He puts the video on Facebook.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08If you can send an image out to thousands of people, that person,
0:16:08 > 0:16:13it's a good bet, will see his self committing the crime,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15feel embarrassed when his mum's watching it,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19his sister's watching it, his girlfriend's watching it, and to me,
0:16:19 > 0:16:21embarrassment is a wonderful weapon.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24The police's local knowledge is a good weapon too.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27And one of Steve's colleagues at the station
0:16:27 > 0:16:31recognises the thief on the footage. They go to arrest him.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Ideally, we wanted to get him as soon as possible to try and retrieve some
0:16:34 > 0:16:37of the items that had been taken from some of the garden thefts,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39so we attended the man's house.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41But the man's not there,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44so they start visiting other addresses he's known to frequent.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Back on his computer,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Ken's had a huge response to the footage he shared online.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52People I know,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55people I hardly know, people I don't know,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58all came on to tell me that they knew who this person was.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02Ken's contacts confirm the prime suspect's name
0:17:02 > 0:17:05and it's not long before the police track him down.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09We were able to find where the man was staying and that resulted in him being arrested.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12The lucky thing is that when the police arrested this guy,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15he coughed up to about 12 other incidents,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20so we managed to clear up a crime spree from one CCTV camera.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24In custody, the thief reveals where he stashed Ken's bench and
0:17:24 > 0:17:26other garden items he's stolen.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28But they're very well hidden.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33Officers have the unenviable task of hunting for a wooden bench in the woods.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36He just said it was the woods on the road,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39so it didn't really narrow it down too well.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42We were in there for about an hour, an hour and a half,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44searching for the items that had been put in there.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49But finally, they get to see the wood for the trees.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51It's such a rewarding feeling when...
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Especially when you've stayed on after your duty and you locate this item
0:17:55 > 0:17:58and you do manage to take it back round to the owner's house.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Unfortunately, Ken wasn't in,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02so we put the bench back in its place
0:18:02 > 0:18:05with his little fox ornament on the top.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Ferdinand's back where he belongs.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13I was very bemused when I returned from shopping to find the bench,
0:18:13 > 0:18:20and a note to say, "With regards, Steve and Mike, here's your bench back."
0:18:20 > 0:18:21It was a pleasant surprise.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31In court, the magistrate sitting on his bench ordered the man to pay
0:18:31 > 0:18:35compensation to his victims, including £50 to Ken.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Ken's taken steps to avoid being unseated again.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I've bolted the bench to the wall,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48so next time somebody decides to lift it,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51they'll have an even bigger hernia trying to carry it away.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56Councillor Ken, Ferdinand and his guests are sitting pretty once more.
0:18:56 > 0:18:57For a small crime,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I was ever so pleased with the service
0:19:00 > 0:19:02that I got from the neighbourhood beat team
0:19:02 > 0:19:07and I was really pleased with the reaction of my friends and neighbours.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Give them a chance, and thieves will steal just about anything they can lay their hands on.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Garden furniture, bicycles, even garden gnomes are up for grabs.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Now, we can't lock every single little thing away,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28so what can we do to protect our belongings?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Things like gravel paths, extra lighting,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34prickly hedges could be a deterrent for a wannabe thief
0:19:34 > 0:19:38because they make things really noisy on the approach to your house
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and that obviously brings unwanted attention
0:19:40 > 0:19:44and it can be really uncomfortable to try and climb over to get into your property as well.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Motion-activated lights on your property or on your outbuildings are
0:19:48 > 0:19:50really useful, not least because
0:19:50 > 0:19:54they will give the offender a fright when they first activate.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56They give passers-by, neighbours,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59yourself the opportunity to see the offender.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02If you've got a workshop or a shed that does have electricity to it,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05then don't forget to use the same thing you use inside your house,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07which is timer lights,
0:20:07 > 0:20:08so you put that on for a little while
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and that makes it feel like it's being utilised.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Thieves will steal anything.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15You might think it's too heavy for them to lift -
0:20:15 > 0:20:17you'll be wrong, they'll take it. If possible, secure it
0:20:17 > 0:20:20to something immovable or even think about cementing it down.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29When a former lawyer opened a restaurant,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32he thought he could forget about the law and focus on fine dining.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35But in a single weekend,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38he has to cope with illegal immigrants in his car park...
0:20:40 > 0:20:42..and customers who bolt down his food
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and bolt off with his wine without paying.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48But this ex-legal eagle is on their case.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59A few miles from the small town of Woodbridge
0:20:59 > 0:21:01on the road to the Suffolk coast
0:21:01 > 0:21:05lies a pub and restaurant called The Unruly Pig.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10It's owned by Brendan, who was a lawyer for 36 years before
0:21:10 > 0:21:11opting for a change of career.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15In many ways, I'm one of those cliches,
0:21:15 > 0:21:16who dream about doing something else,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19who wasn't really satisfied in their career.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22I'm getting on in life and my wife says,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26"Are you going to do something about it? Well, if you're not, shut up about it."
0:21:26 > 0:21:29So that was the boot up the backside that I needed.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Brendan took the plunge after finding this pub for sale.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35He renamed it The Unruly Pig and braced himself
0:21:35 > 0:21:39for months of building work and preparation before he could open.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45It was mayhem. We fundamentally changed the look of the place but there was
0:21:45 > 0:21:48a great buzz and excitement because we wanted to get going.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52But soon after opening,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55the pub suffered a major fire in the middle of the night.
0:21:57 > 0:21:5950 firefighters tackled the blaze
0:21:59 > 0:22:01but almost half the building was destroyed.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07It took months before Brendan could reopen the doors for business.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- Two pheasants going for service, please.- When he did,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14he enlisted Amy as restaurant manager and soon,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16The Unruly Pig was back on its feet.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21I love it here. I think it's really cosy and just a nice environment.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24'And no day is ever the same.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26'In hospitality, you can't ever get complacent.'
0:22:26 > 0:22:31There's always just a little unexpected thing...
0:22:31 > 0:22:33pretty much every day.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37And some bigger unexpected things too,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40as Brendan and Amy experienced one weekend.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48It's a Friday evening in early autumn.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52One of the pub's CCTV cameras shows a couple arriving.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57They take time to look at the menu, just like normal customers.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00But there is something rather different about this pair.
0:23:00 > 0:23:06It was very busy on that night and the couple came in...
0:23:06 > 0:23:09They catch Amy's eye and she goes over to greet them.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11They were both very friendly.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13The woman, she actually said, "Oh, I went to school with you."
0:23:13 > 0:23:16For the life of me, I couldn't remember. I'm awful with names.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21I sort of went, "Yeah, yeah. Oh, yes. I remember."
0:23:22 > 0:23:25The couple haven't booked but are happy to sit outside
0:23:25 > 0:23:27and pick a spot near the road.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Over the next two hours, they order and consume a three-course meal
0:23:33 > 0:23:34with no expense spared,
0:23:34 > 0:23:41including wine and liqueurs, totting up a bill of £147.85.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46It started to get quite chilly so they were the only ones out there.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48But they aren't out there for much longer.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Just before closing time,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54a waiter goes out to find that the couple have disappeared.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57A rather panic-stricken waiter came to me saying...
0:23:57 > 0:23:58"Have they paid?"
0:23:58 > 0:24:01"I think they've done a runner."
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Amy and Brendan go and fire up their CCTV to see if the security camera
0:24:06 > 0:24:08recording can shed any light.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10A lawyer likes to have reliable evidence.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15You have to be really careful about jumping to conclusions unfairly.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But the video leaves them in no doubt.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20There's this shot of them literally legging it,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24legs akimbo over the wall of the decking area with bottle in hand.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29I was quite shocked because it's just not something that happens.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31It wasn't a nice feeling to see that.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Dine and dash, as it's sometimes called,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40leaves restaurant owners heavily out of pocket, and it's on the increase.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43It's breaking the law, and as an ex-lawyer,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Brendan doesn't think the couple should get away with it.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49If anybody had had £150 taken from their wallet,
0:24:49 > 0:24:55they would want to try and identify the thieves and get it back.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Brendan reported the incident to the police
0:24:57 > 0:24:59and gets back to the weekend's work.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02But there are still some unexpected events in store for him.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07The following evening, his CCTV picks up more people doing a runner.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13At 5:47pm on Saturday, a Range Rover careers into the car park,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17narrowly missing a vehicle before screeching to a halt.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Six people leap out and sprint into the woods.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And next minute, the police arrive.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27What is going on?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30The police walk in the door and they said, "Have you got CCTV?"
0:25:30 > 0:25:33"Of course." We went up and looked at it together at and...
0:25:33 > 0:25:36"Heavens above, look at what on earth has happened here."
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It turns out the people are immigrants,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42brought into the country illegally by traffickers at the coast.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45They scarpered when they knew the police were onto them,
0:25:45 > 0:25:46never to be seen again.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51There isn't much Brendan can do about the illegal immigrants.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56But he's determined not to let the couple get away with their free dinner.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59With Brendan's legal background,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03they really picked the wrong place to do it.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The woman thinking she recognised Amy from school
0:26:06 > 0:26:08is a clue that she lives locally.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Brendan gathers still images of the couple.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15There was great CCTV footage, so I thought,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17social media would be a good tool.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21He posts photos of the dine-and-dashers online
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and also goes to the local press with the story.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26The coverage soon pays off.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28The response was good.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32We had about six or seven people phoning us up
0:26:32 > 0:26:35and identifying who they were.
0:26:35 > 0:26:41Simultaneously, the police also were able to identify them.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45While the police go looking for the couple, something unexpected happens.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Brendan gets a visit from the woman's parents.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52They had the grace to apologise on behalf of their daughter,
0:26:52 > 0:26:56and they felt the need to offer to pay.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58There's a question there, is it the right thing to do?
0:26:58 > 0:26:59Should they bail them out?
0:26:59 > 0:27:02But for them, it was a matter of honour.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04The parents insist Brendan takes what's owed.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09He agrees but says he'd rather receive the money from their daughter herself,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11telling them he'll pay them back if he does.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15And a few days later, that starts to look highly likely.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19The police track her down, along with her boyfriend.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21They were eventually able to find them at an address,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24needless to say not their normal home.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31In court, both the man and the woman pleaded guilty to dishonestly
0:27:31 > 0:27:35making off without paying and were ordered to compensate Brendan.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39The woman was also fined for breaching a conditional discharge,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43and the man put under curfew with an electronic tag for other offences.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50The restaurant is now thriving,
0:27:50 > 0:27:55which makes it easier to look back on the dine-and-dash drama with a smile
0:27:55 > 0:27:58and for Brendan to tease Amy about putting the couple outside.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59It's all her fault.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06He's been terrorising me about it ever since(!)
0:28:06 > 0:28:11And his roller-coaster first year hasn't put Brendan off his new venture.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Do I get out of bed with slumped shoulders any more?
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Absolutely not.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19It's a fun thing to do and I'm pleased I've done it.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26That's all we have time for today.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30An increasing number of criminals are being captured on camera every year.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Join us next time to see more villains who've been caught red-handed.