Episode 16

Download Subtitles

Transcript

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.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12But now the police are using cutting-edge technology

0:00:12 > 0:00:14to 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 > 0:00:20Local councils,

0:00:20 > 0:00:22shops and businesses are fighting crime

0:00:22 > 0:00:24with their own tricks and traps.

0:00:24 > 0:00:27There's a eureka moment when you get that evidence.

0:00:27 > 0:00:29And the public are using secret cameras

0:00:29 > 0:00:33to make sure crooks get their comeuppance.

0:00:33 > 0:00:35It makes me feel so angry.

0:00:35 > 0:00:37He's paid the price. He's been dealt with.

0:00:37 > 0:00:39Yes! We've got her!

0:00:39 > 0:00:43So, anyone who is up to no good had better think twice.

0:00:43 > 0:00:45They might just get Caught Red Handed.

0:00:51 > 0:00:54Today, a warning to all burglars.

0:00:54 > 0:00:58Never underestimate the brave British public.

0:00:58 > 0:00:59Like shop manager Neil...

0:01:00 > 0:01:04..who's forced into fighting off a burglar much stronger than he is.

0:01:04 > 0:01:07He said, "I've got a gun, move out of the way."

0:01:07 > 0:01:09But Neil has the bottle to fight back.

0:01:10 > 0:01:14Seeing somebody walk out of the shop door with £3,000 worth of cigarettes

0:01:14 > 0:01:16is just wrong. And I couldn't live with myself

0:01:16 > 0:01:18if I just watched that happen.

0:01:20 > 0:01:26Also today, pub landlady Diane wakes up with a mystery to solve.

0:01:26 > 0:01:29Somebody's been creeping about in my back yard while we are asleep,

0:01:29 > 0:01:33it felt like it was sort of like a violation.

0:01:33 > 0:01:35Diane turns private detective to investigate

0:01:35 > 0:01:39what exactly these two shady characters have been up to.

0:01:43 > 0:01:46But first, Marcus runs a garden centre

0:01:46 > 0:01:49that's a haven for adults with special needs,

0:01:49 > 0:01:51until late one night,

0:01:51 > 0:01:53its tranquillity is shattered by burglars.

0:01:55 > 0:01:57They ransacked the place.

0:01:57 > 0:02:01I just can't comprehend that somebody would do this to a charity.

0:02:01 > 0:02:04These are organised criminals on a rampage,

0:02:04 > 0:02:07attacking more than 100 businesses to steal safes,

0:02:07 > 0:02:11taking £250,000 in the process,

0:02:11 > 0:02:15and causing more than half a million pounds' worth of damage.

0:02:15 > 0:02:19A team of detectives is tasked to stop them.

0:02:19 > 0:02:21They use that level of violence on every occasion,

0:02:21 > 0:02:23taking sledgehammers, crowbars,

0:02:23 > 0:02:27to destroy property, and intimidate and threaten people.

0:02:35 > 0:02:37On the outskirts of Salisbury,

0:02:37 > 0:02:39nestled in the quiet Wiltshire countryside,

0:02:39 > 0:02:44is a garden centre run for and by an inspiring bunch of gardeners,

0:02:44 > 0:02:48with the aid of Marcus and his team from the charity, Alabare.

0:02:48 > 0:02:51- Why don't you try and draw the butterfly from there?- Try me.

0:02:51 > 0:02:52Go on.

0:02:52 > 0:02:56The centre is run for anyone with any disability.

0:02:56 > 0:02:59Learning disabilities, mental health, autistic,

0:02:59 > 0:03:02sensory and physical disabilities.

0:03:02 > 0:03:06The trainees learn carpentry and how to grow their own fruit and veg.

0:03:06 > 0:03:10And the charity strives to help them achieve their full potential.

0:03:10 > 0:03:13We provide a service here to help the clients

0:03:13 > 0:03:16progress into more independent living.

0:03:16 > 0:03:18Nearly there, nearly there. Well done.

0:03:18 > 0:03:20They actually come here and learn things

0:03:20 > 0:03:22and feel good about themselves.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25This place is special. The atmosphere is tranquil,

0:03:25 > 0:03:28a really nice environment for people to work in.

0:03:28 > 0:03:31But the happy atmosphere of this idyllic garden centre

0:03:31 > 0:03:34will soon be torn apart by burglars

0:03:34 > 0:03:38who have no regard for the trail of destruction they leave behind.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's shortly after 8.30pm on a Wednesday in mid-September.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50And parked up on the perimeter of the garden centre

0:03:50 > 0:03:54is a car containing a sinister group of masked men.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57And now, under the cover of darkness,

0:03:57 > 0:03:59they are ready to make their move.

0:04:00 > 0:04:02As they approach the building,

0:04:02 > 0:04:06two of the men are picked up on the centre's infrared CCTV.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09One of them can be seen carrying a crowbar.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12He's obviously aware they are being filmed

0:04:12 > 0:04:14so comes up to the camera and smashes it.

0:04:19 > 0:04:22But a second camera picks them up inside the building.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27One of the intruders removes a fire extinguisher

0:04:27 > 0:04:28while a second masked man

0:04:28 > 0:04:31follows him into the next room.

0:04:31 > 0:04:32Out of range of the camera,

0:04:32 > 0:04:35they use the extinguisher to break into an office

0:04:35 > 0:04:37where they then remove

0:04:37 > 0:04:39the charity's heavy safe from the building.

0:04:40 > 0:04:43The burglar alarm is triggered.

0:04:43 > 0:04:47Five minutes later, the two men can be seen running away,

0:04:47 > 0:04:49closely followed by a third man

0:04:49 > 0:04:52who was covering his head with a grey hoodie.

0:04:52 > 0:04:54Because the alarm has been activated,

0:04:54 > 0:04:55Marcus is alerted at home.

0:04:57 > 0:05:01I had a phone call notifying me that the alarm has gone off.

0:05:01 > 0:05:04As I arrived, there was a lot of police presence.

0:05:04 > 0:05:05When he gets inside,

0:05:05 > 0:05:08Marcus is staggered by the extent of the damage.

0:05:08 > 0:05:12Our kitchen door had been smashed in, tables were turned upside down,

0:05:12 > 0:05:17locked cupboards smashed open, total needless destruction.

0:05:17 > 0:05:20My worst fear was the amount of damage straightaway,

0:05:20 > 0:05:21or what has been taken.

0:05:21 > 0:05:26He discovers that the safe containing £750 is missing.

0:05:26 > 0:05:28I just can't comprehend any of it,

0:05:28 > 0:05:30that somebody would do this to a charity.

0:05:30 > 0:05:34The next morning, Marcus and his team calculate the total cost

0:05:34 > 0:05:37of the burglary, nearly £4,000 in stolen cash

0:05:37 > 0:05:39and damage to the building.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42When the clients came in and saw the damage,

0:05:42 > 0:05:47they felt violated that somebody had been in their place

0:05:47 > 0:05:48and destroyed it.

0:05:50 > 0:05:53Four miles away, at Salisbury police station,

0:05:53 > 0:05:57the case lands on the desk of Detective Sergeant Nigel Porter.

0:05:57 > 0:05:59He's leading a team that's

0:05:59 > 0:06:03investigating a spate of similar burglaries of safes from businesses.

0:06:04 > 0:06:07They believe it's the work of an organised gang

0:06:07 > 0:06:09of ruthless criminals.

0:06:09 > 0:06:12The great deal these victims had suffered

0:06:12 > 0:06:15at the hands of these people

0:06:15 > 0:06:17as a result of the amount of damage and violence

0:06:17 > 0:06:19that was shown to their property,

0:06:19 > 0:06:21the emotional aspect to the victim is profound.

0:06:21 > 0:06:25Nigel's team are specialists in putting gangs behind bars,

0:06:25 > 0:06:29and they've been working on this case for several months.

0:06:29 > 0:06:32Their first task was finding out the extent of the crimewave,

0:06:32 > 0:06:35and it turned out more than 80 businesses

0:06:35 > 0:06:37had been attacked across seven counties.

0:06:37 > 0:06:41They were able to link the crimes, because the burglars used the same

0:06:41 > 0:06:43distinctive method each time.

0:06:43 > 0:06:46They generally chose remote, isolated locations.

0:06:46 > 0:06:50They came over rural ground, out of sight, back of the premises,

0:06:50 > 0:06:53and used extreme violence to enter it.

0:06:53 > 0:06:56After smashing their way in, they locate the company's safe.

0:06:56 > 0:07:00They loosen safes where they were in situ,

0:07:00 > 0:07:04just enough for them to put a strap around the safe,

0:07:04 > 0:07:06attach it to the rear of their four-wheel drive,

0:07:06 > 0:07:10then they drag the safe out, causing untold damage.

0:07:10 > 0:07:13Look at the sparks coming off the ground,

0:07:13 > 0:07:16to show the impact as it smashes its way out.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22The gang then go to secluded spots

0:07:22 > 0:07:24where they break into the safes

0:07:24 > 0:07:26using industrial disc cutters.

0:07:26 > 0:07:29The CCTV footage from the garden centre raid

0:07:29 > 0:07:32shows another link with the other burglaries,

0:07:32 > 0:07:35the robbers often remove fire extinguishers.

0:07:35 > 0:07:38Their MO is that they get the fire extinguishers

0:07:38 > 0:07:41from the attacked premises to cool down

0:07:41 > 0:07:43the cutting effect on the safes.

0:07:43 > 0:07:46And that stops the money inside burning.

0:07:46 > 0:07:49The burglars may think they have a slick operation,

0:07:49 > 0:07:51but Nigel's convinced he knows who they are.

0:07:53 > 0:07:54He's had a major lead

0:07:54 > 0:07:57because of a car seen in the vicinity of a burglary

0:07:57 > 0:07:59failing to stop for local police.

0:08:00 > 0:08:02This person owned a vehicle

0:08:02 > 0:08:05similar to one that was seen at one of the offences.

0:08:05 > 0:08:07So therefore, we had reasonable cause to suspect he was involved

0:08:07 > 0:08:09and his actions to try and evade the police later on

0:08:09 > 0:08:12gave us enough grounds for his initial arrest.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15They've traced the man's address from his number plate

0:08:15 > 0:08:17and searched his property,

0:08:17 > 0:08:19soon realising they're on the right track.

0:08:19 > 0:08:23The team came away with a Subaru, with a four-wheel drive vehicle,

0:08:23 > 0:08:26which had some straps we believed they'd used for pulling safes,

0:08:26 > 0:08:29and a number of telephone handsets.

0:08:29 > 0:08:32The man's mobile phones have provided valuable information,

0:08:32 > 0:08:35including the names of two more suspects.

0:08:35 > 0:08:38At that point, we've got our three offenders,

0:08:38 > 0:08:40we now have to build the evidence around them.

0:08:40 > 0:08:43There isn't enough solid evidence to charge the suspects

0:08:43 > 0:08:44for committing the burglaries

0:08:44 > 0:08:46because their faces are always covered,

0:08:46 > 0:08:49and they never leave fingerprints.

0:08:49 > 0:08:53I felt pressure to catch these people as quickly as possible,

0:08:53 > 0:08:56so that a member of the public wasn't seriously injured or harmed.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59You saw the speed that that smashes its way through the door jam,

0:08:59 > 0:09:01as it comes out, which could quite clearly kill somebody

0:09:01 > 0:09:03arriving at the scene.

0:09:03 > 0:09:05If Nigel can prove the suspects

0:09:05 > 0:09:07are responsible for planning the raids,

0:09:07 > 0:09:09he can put them behind bars

0:09:09 > 0:09:12on conspiracy charges, and a conspiracy case

0:09:12 > 0:09:16enables him to use every small shred of evidence.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18What we try to do is build a wall of evidence.

0:09:18 > 0:09:21Each brick helps build a picture of whether be it

0:09:21 > 0:09:24somebody's present near the offence,

0:09:24 > 0:09:26a vehicle owned by them is nearby,

0:09:26 > 0:09:29or there is DNA from a removable object

0:09:29 > 0:09:32at the scene of one of those offences.

0:09:32 > 0:09:33In the weeks that follow,

0:09:33 > 0:09:37Nigel and his team confirmed that on the nights businesses were raided,

0:09:37 > 0:09:41the suspects' mobile phones and vehicles were in the area.

0:09:41 > 0:09:43They build a strong enough case to move in

0:09:43 > 0:09:46and arrest all three suspects.

0:09:46 > 0:09:5287 officers from three counties descended on four addresses.

0:09:52 > 0:09:56Vital evidence is unearthed at those addresses.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59We found another Subaru, and in the boot of the Subaru,

0:09:59 > 0:10:02we found a disc cutter, we found crowbars,

0:10:02 > 0:10:07and in the garden of that person, we found fire extinguishers.

0:10:07 > 0:10:12They also find clothes clearly seen on CCTV of the raids.

0:10:12 > 0:10:16This hooded top appears and reappears on a number of offences.

0:10:16 > 0:10:19All three suspects are remanded in custody.

0:10:19 > 0:10:20And over the next few months,

0:10:20 > 0:10:24Nigel gets a further indication that he has the right men.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27Whilst they were on remand,

0:10:27 > 0:10:29we did not have one other offence

0:10:29 > 0:10:32of this nature in the whole of Wiltshire.

0:10:32 > 0:10:37The crimewave, in which 120 businesses were hit, is at an end.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40Nigel and his team build such a watertight case

0:10:40 > 0:10:42that all three suspects

0:10:42 > 0:10:44had no choice but to plead guilty.

0:10:48 > 0:10:50The three men were jailed

0:10:50 > 0:10:54for a combined total of 24 years for conspiracy to burgle.

0:10:57 > 0:10:58It's a good outcome,

0:10:58 > 0:10:59and business owners in seven counties

0:10:59 > 0:11:02can breathe a sigh of relief.

0:11:02 > 0:11:06There's no feeling better than being successful at court,

0:11:06 > 0:11:09and we were so overwhelmed by the victims' response

0:11:09 > 0:11:11to the fact that we caught the people.

0:11:11 > 0:11:14It was a good feeling to see them all get custodial sentences.

0:11:15 > 0:11:17And those at the charity garden centre

0:11:17 > 0:11:19can now put the burglary behind them

0:11:19 > 0:11:21and keep building on their success.

0:11:21 > 0:11:23There's lots of things going on,

0:11:23 > 0:11:25we are looking to put a cafe in,

0:11:25 > 0:11:29so we can offer catering and retail qualifications for our clients.

0:11:29 > 0:11:31So the outlook is really good.

0:11:43 > 0:11:47If you were to think of a likely suspect for keying a car,

0:11:47 > 0:11:50a 44-year-old woman walking a little pug dog

0:11:50 > 0:11:53probably wouldn't be first pick.

0:11:53 > 0:11:54But here she is,

0:11:54 > 0:11:57and this is her looking round before using a key

0:11:57 > 0:12:01to maliciously scratch this car from one end to the other.

0:12:02 > 0:12:04The owner of the car had set up cameras

0:12:04 > 0:12:06after some previous vandalism,

0:12:06 > 0:12:08and was shocked to see a total stranger

0:12:08 > 0:12:11casually maiming her vehicle.

0:12:11 > 0:12:15But this car isn't the only victim of this middle-aged vandal.

0:12:15 > 0:12:17After pausing for a cigarette break,

0:12:17 > 0:12:20yes, criminal damage can take it out of you,

0:12:20 > 0:12:24she keys another two cars as she nonchalantly strolls on her way.

0:12:26 > 0:12:32But as hooligans go, she obviously isn't the sharpest key on the ring.

0:12:32 > 0:12:34Being caught on CCTV

0:12:34 > 0:12:37means the police have a perfect mug shot of the woman,

0:12:37 > 0:12:39and she's soon identified and collared.

0:12:42 > 0:12:47She's taken to court and ordered to pay a fine of £340.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50I suspect next time she takes her pug for a walk,

0:12:50 > 0:12:53she'll keep her keys firmly in her pocket.

0:13:00 > 0:13:03A robber might think a small local shop

0:13:03 > 0:13:06in a quiet town would be an easy target,

0:13:06 > 0:13:08but some shopkeepers will do anything

0:13:08 > 0:13:10to protect their hard-earned cash.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16A desperate struggle erupts when shop manager Neil

0:13:16 > 0:13:17tries to stop a thief

0:13:17 > 0:13:20stealing goods worth thousands.

0:13:20 > 0:13:23Regular customer Nicky was only popping to the shops,

0:13:23 > 0:13:26but now she's forced into action.

0:13:26 > 0:13:27He looked very shocked,

0:13:27 > 0:13:29he didn't have a clue what was going on.

0:13:29 > 0:13:33I stopped, and then I thought, no, he can have some more.

0:13:40 > 0:13:44Boston Spa is a village near the city of Leeds.

0:13:44 > 0:13:46For nearly three decades,

0:13:46 > 0:13:5057-year-old Neil has been manager of the local convenience store.

0:13:50 > 0:13:52Boston is one of the nicest places

0:13:52 > 0:13:54to live in the whole of the North of Britain.

0:13:54 > 0:13:58I just could not have come to a better place to live.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01My customers, the regulars, a lot of them, they come in every day,

0:14:01 > 0:14:06every week, and after 27 years, I do know the vast bulk of them.

0:14:06 > 0:14:0921-year-old Jamie was one of Neil's customers.

0:14:09 > 0:14:11Now he's a colleague.

0:14:12 > 0:14:14Neil sort of said, "Oh, do you want to come and work here?"

0:14:14 > 0:14:17So I said, "OK. I'll come and work here for a little while."

0:14:17 > 0:14:20Turned out, lasted for about two and a half years.

0:14:21 > 0:14:24It is a busy shop, even though it's quite a small village,

0:14:24 > 0:14:25a lot of people pass through.

0:14:25 > 0:14:27Thanks, Brian.

0:14:27 > 0:14:29It's just a great place to have a shop.

0:14:29 > 0:14:30And Neil should know.

0:14:30 > 0:14:34He's managed shops in some pretty challenging places overseas.

0:14:34 > 0:14:37When he and his family were based in Papua New Guinea,

0:14:37 > 0:14:40he had some very hairy moments.

0:14:40 > 0:14:43We had our shops broken into on a frequent occurrence.

0:14:43 > 0:14:45It's just a way of life out there,

0:14:45 > 0:14:47but it does get to you occasionally

0:14:47 > 0:14:51when you know full well that you could be robbed at any time.

0:14:51 > 0:14:55Those volatile days abroad taught Neil how to stand up for himself,

0:14:55 > 0:15:00something he never thought he'd need in sedate Boston Spa.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02But it turns out that he does.

0:15:07 > 0:15:10It's 9.30 on a Saturday night in late spring.

0:15:11 > 0:15:14Neil and Jamie are working in the store as usual.

0:15:16 > 0:15:20Regular customer Nicky is doing some last-minute shopping.

0:15:20 > 0:15:22I just needed a few bits.

0:15:22 > 0:15:25Jamie was behind the counter.

0:15:25 > 0:15:28Because it was so quiet, we managed to have a little chat.

0:15:30 > 0:15:32Neil has gone round the back of the shop

0:15:32 > 0:15:35to start locking up for the night.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38Just before closing time, a man enters the store.

0:15:38 > 0:15:40The CCTV picks him up

0:15:40 > 0:15:43as he heads towards the aisle at the back of the shop.

0:15:43 > 0:15:46I saw a gentleman come into the shop.

0:15:46 > 0:15:47As I was carrying on talking,

0:15:47 > 0:15:50I just assumed that he'd used the cash machine and left.

0:15:50 > 0:15:54But the man hasn't left, and as he loiters around,

0:15:54 > 0:15:57he doesn't seem too interested in shopping either.

0:15:57 > 0:16:01Peering round the corner, he sees Jamie and Nicky are still talking.

0:16:02 > 0:16:04While they are distracted,

0:16:04 > 0:16:07he takes the chance to disappear through the door

0:16:07 > 0:16:10that leads down to the shop cellar.

0:16:10 > 0:16:14By now, Neil has come back in from outside.

0:16:14 > 0:16:17I could hear a rustling, strange,

0:16:17 > 0:16:19so I could see the door was open to the cellars,

0:16:19 > 0:16:21so I went to the top of the stairs,

0:16:21 > 0:16:22went down a bit,

0:16:22 > 0:16:25and I could then see two legs running along the cellar.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28With Nicky and Jamie still up front by the counter,

0:16:28 > 0:16:32Neil realises they have an intruder downstairs.

0:16:32 > 0:16:34I thought, well, he's not going to get out,

0:16:34 > 0:16:36because there is no exit from the cellar.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39So whatever happens, he's going to have to come to face me.

0:16:39 > 0:16:41I shouted to him and I warned him, I said, "Look,

0:16:41 > 0:16:44"I'm on the stairs, and I'm not moving."

0:16:44 > 0:16:45He then ran towards me.

0:16:45 > 0:16:47As the man pauses at the bottom of the stairs,

0:16:47 > 0:16:50Neil sees he's powerfully built

0:16:50 > 0:16:53and holding a large box full of packs of cigarettes.

0:16:53 > 0:16:55Seeing somebody walk out of the shop door

0:16:55 > 0:16:58with £3,000 worth of cigarettes is just wrong.

0:16:58 > 0:17:01I couldn't live with myself if I just watched that happen.

0:17:01 > 0:17:03Still holding the cigarettes,

0:17:03 > 0:17:06the man starts coming up the stairs towards Neil.

0:17:06 > 0:17:08You have seconds to think what you're going to do,

0:17:08 > 0:17:10and there's no way I could get into a fight with this person.

0:17:10 > 0:17:12He was much bigger than me.

0:17:12 > 0:17:14So I needed a weapon.

0:17:14 > 0:17:17And it would have been whatever was at the side of me.

0:17:17 > 0:17:19It was just a bottle of champagne.

0:17:19 > 0:17:20He picks up the bottle.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24He said, "I've got a gun, move out of the way."

0:17:24 > 0:17:26I said, "Well, I'm still not moving."

0:17:26 > 0:17:29Neil's seen people pull out guns before, abroad,

0:17:29 > 0:17:32so he doesn't scare easily.

0:17:32 > 0:17:34So, he just went ballistic to try and get out.

0:17:34 > 0:17:37Neil's determined to do everything in his power

0:17:37 > 0:17:40to stop the man forcing his way past him.

0:17:40 > 0:17:42A desperate struggle begins.

0:17:43 > 0:17:47I come round the corner and see the robber coming out of the cellar,

0:17:47 > 0:17:48and I just see Neil there,

0:17:48 > 0:17:51hitting him over the head with the champagne bottle.

0:17:53 > 0:17:56I just didn't really know what to do at first, so I sort of stood there,

0:17:56 > 0:18:00like, "OK, what do I do? What do I do?"

0:18:00 > 0:18:01I then just started shouting,

0:18:01 > 0:18:04I said, "Get the police, get the police."

0:18:04 > 0:18:07While Jamie phones 999, Neil fights on.

0:18:07 > 0:18:09The police strongly recommend

0:18:09 > 0:18:11not getting drawn into violence yourself,

0:18:11 > 0:18:14but Neil feels he has no alternative.

0:18:14 > 0:18:16He was not going to let go of those cigarettes,

0:18:16 > 0:18:17so I grabbed hold of him,

0:18:17 > 0:18:21he pushed towards me, and that's when the cigarettes flew everywhere.

0:18:21 > 0:18:25Jamie tries to help while he's on the phone to the police.

0:18:25 > 0:18:29At the counter, Nicky's only just realised something is wrong.

0:18:29 > 0:18:31I couldn't really hear.

0:18:31 > 0:18:35I looked round the corner and Neil was trying to defend himself

0:18:35 > 0:18:36against some bloke.

0:18:36 > 0:18:39Neil could get hurt, I thought, "I need to help him."

0:18:39 > 0:18:41I then saw the fire extinguishers.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43So I thought, "Aha."

0:18:43 > 0:18:46Pushing Neil away, the robber goes round the corner.

0:18:46 > 0:18:48Both of them are about to get a shock.

0:18:51 > 0:18:55Nicky just comes out of nowhere, like superhero out of nowhere,

0:18:55 > 0:18:59she's just there with the fire extinguisher.

0:18:59 > 0:19:02I aimed it in the bloke's face and let it off.

0:19:02 > 0:19:04He then got covered in all this powder

0:19:04 > 0:19:07that looked like he'd got a swarm of bees around him.

0:19:07 > 0:19:09And he looked very shocked.

0:19:09 > 0:19:11He didn't have a clue what was going on.

0:19:11 > 0:19:13And he was stumbling, falling over.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16I stopped, and then I thought, "No, he can have some more."

0:19:16 > 0:19:18SHE LAUGHS

0:19:18 > 0:19:21His face was covered in it. You couldn't see him then.

0:19:21 > 0:19:24It didn't even dawn on me that I may scare Neil to death.

0:19:24 > 0:19:27I went from seeing everything to seeing nothing.

0:19:27 > 0:19:30I was completely covered in white mist.

0:19:30 > 0:19:32He was covered. I could barely see him,

0:19:32 > 0:19:34even though he was only a few inches from me.

0:19:34 > 0:19:38It had stopped the commotion and the aggressive fighting and things,

0:19:38 > 0:19:42so I was quite happy that Neil was OK.

0:19:42 > 0:19:45The robber then groggily gets to his feet

0:19:45 > 0:19:48and lurches out of the front door.

0:19:48 > 0:19:51Neil pursues him across the street.

0:19:51 > 0:19:53I just got to him and he went flying into a car,

0:19:53 > 0:19:55or staggering into a car, actually,

0:19:55 > 0:19:59dragged in by a friend that was in the car.

0:19:59 > 0:20:00They then zoomed off.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07Neil returns to his shop to survey the chaos,

0:20:07 > 0:20:09though, at least, nothing's been taken.

0:20:11 > 0:20:14The police are quickly at the scene.

0:20:14 > 0:20:17I thought, there's so much footage, we have a good CCTV in here.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20And so I knew once the tape got into the hands of the police,

0:20:20 > 0:20:22they would solve it.

0:20:23 > 0:20:25Sure enough, a few days later,

0:20:25 > 0:20:28the police believe they've found the man responsible.

0:20:28 > 0:20:30They call Neil in to identify him.

0:20:31 > 0:20:33They basically just flashed up on screen

0:20:33 > 0:20:37about ten people that remarkably looked very similar,

0:20:37 > 0:20:40but I went straightaway to the person who it was.

0:20:40 > 0:20:42You know, we'd been fighting for five minutes,

0:20:42 > 0:20:45and I wasn't going to forget that face.

0:20:47 > 0:20:50The 38-year-old man was convicted of burglary

0:20:50 > 0:20:52and given a 12-month prison sentence,

0:20:52 > 0:20:54suspended for 24 months.

0:20:58 > 0:21:02Unsurprisingly, he is also no longer welcome at Neil's shop,

0:21:02 > 0:21:04not that he's likely to return,

0:21:04 > 0:21:07given the treatment he received last time.

0:21:07 > 0:21:10It shocked me a bit. All I could think of was,

0:21:10 > 0:21:11I best not mess with Neil.

0:21:11 > 0:21:13He's very quiet normally.

0:21:13 > 0:21:15So we have a bit of this running joke now

0:21:15 > 0:21:18where Neil will chase you with a champagne bottle

0:21:18 > 0:21:20if you do anything wrong.

0:21:20 > 0:21:23I thought Neil was very, very brave.

0:21:23 > 0:21:25But Neil thinks Nicky's the real hero

0:21:25 > 0:21:29for her quick thinking in grabbing the fire extinguisher.

0:21:29 > 0:21:30I just think she was great,

0:21:30 > 0:21:34to actually join in where many people might not have done,

0:21:34 > 0:21:35and she was helping me.

0:21:35 > 0:21:38Where it would have gone without Nicky, I don't know.

0:21:45 > 0:21:47If you witness a violent crime taking place,

0:21:47 > 0:21:49it can be very tempting to go and help,

0:21:49 > 0:21:51but that might not be a wise move,

0:21:51 > 0:21:54so what should people do in that situation?

0:21:54 > 0:21:57If you get into somebody's personal space, for example,

0:21:57 > 0:21:59they automatically become defensive.

0:21:59 > 0:22:02So when I've been in a pub scenario where there's been a fight,

0:22:02 > 0:22:04you can go straight into somebody

0:22:04 > 0:22:05and you go toe-to-toe with them

0:22:05 > 0:22:07and that actually inflames the situation.

0:22:07 > 0:22:09What you might want to do is create a bit of distance between you

0:22:09 > 0:22:11and use your body language

0:22:11 > 0:22:14to actually try and calm the situation down.

0:22:14 > 0:22:16In a violent or aggressive situation,

0:22:16 > 0:22:20there's absolutely no shame in just trying to remove yourself

0:22:20 > 0:22:24from the area altogether, so look for an escape route,

0:22:24 > 0:22:28look to see how you could get there, possibly the quickest way,

0:22:28 > 0:22:31and just get outside of the premises altogether.

0:22:31 > 0:22:34However, there will be situations, life and death situations,

0:22:34 > 0:22:37where you feel compelled to intervene.

0:22:37 > 0:22:39It may be that you've got the appropriate training

0:22:39 > 0:22:41or experience to intervene,

0:22:41 > 0:22:43and that's a judgment call for yourself at the time,

0:22:43 > 0:22:45but as a general rule,

0:22:45 > 0:22:47try and avoid getting involved and call for help.

0:22:47 > 0:22:49No property is worth getting hurt for.

0:22:49 > 0:22:51There's no shame in leaving a violent situation.

0:22:51 > 0:22:54Get out and call the police, so we can come and handle it properly.

0:23:04 > 0:23:07One of the most popular pubs in Morley, West Yorkshire,

0:23:07 > 0:23:09is the Carriers Arms.

0:23:09 > 0:23:12And one of Morley's most popular landladies is Diane,

0:23:12 > 0:23:16who's been here 16 years.

0:23:16 > 0:23:19The traditional pubs, they're shutting down, it's a struggle,

0:23:19 > 0:23:22but I really want us to keep going.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25Pubs are still the heart and soul of the community.

0:23:25 > 0:23:29Diane and husband Sean have always taken pride in their pub,

0:23:29 > 0:23:32its ale, its food and its prize-winning beer garden.

0:23:33 > 0:23:37Every year, we enter into the Leeds in Bloom and for the last few years,

0:23:37 > 0:23:39we've won the Silver award.

0:23:39 > 0:23:43And, hopefully, one year, we might win the Gold award.

0:23:43 > 0:23:45Diane loves a challenge,

0:23:45 > 0:23:47and when thieves pay her pub a visit one night,

0:23:47 > 0:23:50she has a real mystery to solve.

0:23:50 > 0:23:52Who are they and what is it they're after?

0:23:57 > 0:23:59It's a Sunday morning in late June.

0:23:59 > 0:24:02Diane and Sean are clearing the beer garden

0:24:02 > 0:24:05after a busy day's trade on Saturday.

0:24:05 > 0:24:07We were outside, sweeping up,

0:24:07 > 0:24:09getting ready for opening up at 12 o'clock,

0:24:09 > 0:24:14and we noticed that the watering system had been uncoupled.

0:24:14 > 0:24:16First of all, we thought, "There's been somebody around here

0:24:16 > 0:24:18"trying to steal the hosepipe."

0:24:18 > 0:24:22Diane thinks they must have had intruders in the early hours.

0:24:22 > 0:24:24We looked at the shed,

0:24:24 > 0:24:26and there didn't look to be anything untoward about it

0:24:26 > 0:24:28because the padlocks looked to be in place.

0:24:28 > 0:24:31She goes to check what the pub security cameras

0:24:31 > 0:24:33recorded during the night.

0:24:33 > 0:24:35I was like a dog with a bone and started going

0:24:35 > 0:24:38minute by minute through the CCTV.

0:24:39 > 0:24:42Diane soon spots something amiss.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45At 3:15am, a man in a hat

0:24:45 > 0:24:48stops on the pavement outside the beer garden.

0:24:48 > 0:24:52Seconds later, she notices another man inside the garden.

0:24:53 > 0:24:57He puts something down and continues further into her property.

0:24:58 > 0:25:02She then sees the man in the hat check that the coast is clear

0:25:02 > 0:25:04before following his accomplice.

0:25:04 > 0:25:06I couldn't believe my eyes.

0:25:06 > 0:25:08We'd had perpetrators in the night.

0:25:08 > 0:25:11We were just on the second floor above there.

0:25:11 > 0:25:15Somebody had been creeping about in my back yard while we're asleep.

0:25:15 > 0:25:17It felt like it was sort of like a violation.

0:25:18 > 0:25:20Five minutes later,

0:25:20 > 0:25:24the trespassers reappear on camera before leaving the beer garden.

0:25:26 > 0:25:29One of them seems to be carrying a large object,

0:25:29 > 0:25:31but she can't make out what it is.

0:25:31 > 0:25:34We thought, "They must have been up to something for the length of time

0:25:34 > 0:25:36"that they'd sort of disappeared off the camera."

0:25:36 > 0:25:38So we went and had a look at the shed.

0:25:40 > 0:25:43A closer inspection of the suspected crime scene

0:25:43 > 0:25:46reveals there has been a break in.

0:25:46 > 0:25:49They'd actually managed to take off the middle lock

0:25:49 > 0:25:51but the top padlock was still locked.

0:25:51 > 0:25:55And it looks as though they pulled the door towards themselves,

0:25:55 > 0:25:57and had just stolen something

0:25:57 > 0:26:00that was small enough to get through that space.

0:26:00 > 0:26:04When Diane opens the shed door, her suspicions are confirmed.

0:26:05 > 0:26:09The expensive strimmer that we'd only put in there the day before

0:26:09 > 0:26:10was there no longer.

0:26:12 > 0:26:14The thieves may have only stolen a strimmer,

0:26:14 > 0:26:16but it was an expensive one,

0:26:16 > 0:26:20and Diane's determined they're not going to get away with it.

0:26:20 > 0:26:21I was just really annoyed.

0:26:21 > 0:26:22I work hard for everything,

0:26:22 > 0:26:25and somebody comes along and steals from us,

0:26:25 > 0:26:27it's just an insult.

0:26:27 > 0:26:31Now she knows what's gone, Diane wants to find out who done it.

0:26:33 > 0:26:35She checks the images from a second camera

0:26:35 > 0:26:36overlooking the beer garden...

0:26:38 > 0:26:41..and soon finds an image which clearly shows the face

0:26:41 > 0:26:43of one of the thieves.

0:26:43 > 0:26:46My immediate thought is that somebody would know who they were

0:26:46 > 0:26:50because it was such good facial footage of them.

0:26:50 > 0:26:52While his accomplice steals the strimmer,

0:26:52 > 0:26:55the man in the hat has different priorities,

0:26:55 > 0:26:58stealing unfinished cigarettes.

0:26:58 > 0:27:01He got his lighter and started inspecting my ashtray

0:27:01 > 0:27:03and finding what cigarette ends he could get.

0:27:03 > 0:27:05I had to laugh, really, because I just thought,

0:27:05 > 0:27:08"There's this guy in this funny porkpie hat,

0:27:08 > 0:27:10"looking through my ashtray while I'm in bed."

0:27:10 > 0:27:13Diane's detective work is done.

0:27:13 > 0:27:15She calls the police with her findings.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18When the police came out and looked at the CCTV,

0:27:18 > 0:27:21they actually knew who the perpetrators were.

0:27:23 > 0:27:26Two weeks later, police officers caught up with the pair.

0:27:26 > 0:27:30One was arrested in possession of other stolen property.

0:27:30 > 0:27:33Unfortunately, Diane's strimmer was long gone.

0:27:34 > 0:27:39But at least her determination has helped bring the men to justice.

0:27:39 > 0:27:42It turned out that there had been other thefts in the area

0:27:42 > 0:27:45and I felt like it had helped

0:27:45 > 0:27:49using our CCTV footage to stop them in their tracks, really,

0:27:49 > 0:27:50from doing any more.

0:27:52 > 0:27:56In court, the man in the hat pleaded guilty to burglary,

0:27:56 > 0:27:59and was sent to prison for 28 weeks.

0:27:59 > 0:28:03The other man received a sentence of two years and five months for theft,

0:28:03 > 0:28:06burglary and going equipped to steal.

0:28:08 > 0:28:11Diane and Sean have now replaced the strimmer

0:28:11 > 0:28:16and are continuing their fight to save the traditional British pub.

0:28:16 > 0:28:19We're trying to keep going, keep being in the heart of the community

0:28:19 > 0:28:21until we retire.

0:28:21 > 0:28:25Although it's a struggle, we are still here and smiling.

0:28:25 > 0:28:27Cheers.

0:28:31 > 0:28:32That's it for today.

0:28:32 > 0:28:34And that's it for a few more criminals

0:28:34 > 0:28:37who have been Caught Red Handed.