0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cash, our cars, our valuables -
0:00:05 > 0:00:09just 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 > 0:00:13to catch the bad guys.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- CCTV is gold dust. - Great evidence for the police.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Got to have him stopped.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Local councils, shops and businesses are fighting crime with their
0:00:23 > 0:00:25own 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 crooks
0:00:31 > 0:00:33get 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 being dealt with.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Yes! We've got her.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43So anyone who's up to no good had better think twice.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45They might just get Caught Red Handed.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Today...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Police officer Rich Farah bravely struggles with
0:00:55 > 0:00:59a suspected bike thief, and ends up inches from speeding traffic.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01There was cars passing, taxis passing,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05and I was concerned that I was going to get run over.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Passing by is Andy, a martial arts expert,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10who pitches in to help the policeman.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I decided, someone's going to get hurt here.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Someone needs to take control.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19And eagle-eyed CCTV operator Colin spots something chilling.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23We always keep the camera on until the very last minute.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Cos you do not know what will happen.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Also today...
0:01:28 > 0:01:31shop owners Martin and Betty can't believe their eyes
0:01:31 > 0:01:35when they see what's been going on behind their backs.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37It's like the bottom of our world dropped out.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40My legs went to jelly, I felt faint.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42I was in a complete state of utter shock.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50And we meet a Grinch who goes to great lengths to steal Christmas.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Well, at least the tree.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02There are around five million CCTV cameras in this country,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04which help combat crime.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Some of them are manned 24 hours a day.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18York used to be protected by its ancient city walls.
0:02:18 > 0:02:19But these days it's guarded by
0:02:19 > 0:02:22an extensive network of council cameras,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26with ever-watchful controllers like Colin on constant sentry duty.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32I enjoy the CCTV work, purely because every day is different.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37I've been doing the job now nearly three years, I'm still learning.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39You tend to notice more with body language.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Obviously, with CCTV, you only see what's occurring,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45you don't actually hear.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47You know when things aren't right,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51you tend to be able to spot them, but it's still a learning curve.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56PC Rich Farah patrols the streets monitored by Colin and his team.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Rich is York, born and bred.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02From a young age, I've always wanted to be a police officer.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06My father's a retired police officer. Did 30 years, here in York.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Also got a brother working for North Yorkshire police,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11so it's a bit of a family tradition.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Currently, I work on the safer neighbourhood team,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17where I work alongside the community.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20PC Rich and camera operator Colin know the importance
0:03:20 > 0:03:21of working as a team.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Ever since one night when Colin was on the cameras
0:03:24 > 0:03:26and Rich's life was on the line.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35It's a Saturday evening in York city centre.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39In the CCTV unit, Colin receives a call from a pub doorman,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42telling him a man is behaving suspiciously near a bike rank.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46He swings his cameras round to find the suspect.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51He was taking a unhealthy interest in the wheel sprocket.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55I believed he was looking for what's called quick-release wheels,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58things that he could easily steal and transport.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Modern bikes can cost thousands of pounds.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Sometimes, even a single wheel can be worth £500.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08There's big money to be made on the black market.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10He was on a cycle himself.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12If he was able to get a wheel, he could take it off,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15cycle away, and no-one would be the wiser.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Colin radios the police and links them into his CCTV footage.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25'Good evening, are you able to have a nosey at this lad?
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'We've currently got him on camera, he's looking at all the bikes.'
0:04:29 > 0:04:33He looked like a cyclist, but his actions told a different story.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37PC Rich is on patrol nearby, and goes to investigate.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41As I went through the lights, turned the corner into Exhibition Square,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45that's when I saw this male who was cycling away from the bike racks,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47and he fitted the description.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51As a man rides off, Colin keeps track of him on the cameras.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Rich has to stop him quickly.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56In a city centre full of narrow alleyways,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59a suspect on a bike can easily outrun a police car.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06I spun my car around, stopped in front of him to prevent his escape.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09At that time, I believed the bike that he was on
0:05:09 > 0:05:11was a stolen pedal bike.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12The timing was excellent.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Literally as the male went to cycle off across a crossing,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18the police car actually turned up.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21The male nearly rode into it, it was that close.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Rich needs to get the suspect off his bike and into a position where
0:05:25 > 0:05:27he can control the situation.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30I directed him to stand to one side by the bar walls,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32and I put the bike to one side.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38And that would prevent his options of escape if he wanted to run away.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42The man's behaviour is highly suspicious.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45He became more and more fidgety, stepping from foot to foot,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49and they were all the signs that he didn't want to be there.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52He got more and more anty, more and more anty as I searched him.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57The suspect is so nervous, Rich thinks he might be hiding something.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00I then move around to the side of him
0:06:00 > 0:06:02so I can search the back of his body.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05At that point, that's when all hell broke loose.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08The man tries to run, but Rich is having none of it.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17He escapes Rich's grasp, and gets to the middle of a road
0:06:17 > 0:06:19before being tackled to the ground again.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24It's one of York's busiest road junctions.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Cars narrowly miss them.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30In the camera control unit,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Colin alerts the police station to send for backup.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36'Every unit to Exhibition Square, please.'
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I recall a lot of my personal protective equipment
0:06:39 > 0:06:41falling from my utility vest.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44I can remember something metal falling to the ground,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46and I thought that was my police baton.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50The suspect continues to resist arrest.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Rich needs help,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56and he's going to need it before police backup can arrive.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Later...
0:07:02 > 0:07:05a martial arts expert turned Good Samaritan.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07He started losing grip on the guy,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09there were cars swerving round them,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11so I just threw the car door open,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14run across and grabbed the guy from behind.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18And for Rich, there's a shock to come when the security cameras
0:07:18 > 0:07:21reveal something even more sinister.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24I was picking up my personal equipment from the floor,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and I thought, "Oh, my God, there's butchers knife."
0:07:28 > 0:07:29Also coming up...
0:07:30 > 0:07:34..the newsagents who are convinced their employee and friend
0:07:34 > 0:07:38is stealing from them. But they need to prove it.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42She knew we were going under, and she still played the innocent card.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51They say at Christmas it's better to give than to receive.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55But for this crook in Canterbury, it's more about taking than giving.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02T'was the night before Christmas,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and all through the warehouse, not a creature stirred.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Apart from this burglar, breaking into the office, that is.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Now, not everybody enters into the Christmas spirit,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17but this guy takes the biscuit.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22As he goes round looking to fill his stocking - well, backpack -
0:08:22 > 0:08:23with somebody else's money.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Using a crowbar to open a locked filing cabinet,
0:08:27 > 0:08:32he soon finds what he's looking for in a drawer - thousands of pounds.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38The building he's in is the local fruit and veg wholesaler,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41and one of the reasons so much money has been left on-site is that
0:08:41 > 0:08:45the boss was preparing to give staff their Christmas bonus.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Which this fella is now pocketing instead.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Bah, humbug.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52But, as Santa's Little Help-Yourselfer goes about
0:08:52 > 0:08:54his Christmas cash-and-carry,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58he doesn't realise his face is being recorded on a hidden camera.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The footage is a Christmas present for Kent Police,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08as some body recognises the thief.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10A repeat offender, he's arrested,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14convicted and sent to jail for six years.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16That's six Christmases inside.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17Happy New Year(!)
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Our local newsagents are often up before the sparrows
0:09:25 > 0:09:29and still open long after we've gone to bed.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30They work hard for their money,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34so it can be a bitter blow when some of that money goes missing.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41A once booming business facing a financial crisis...
0:09:41 > 0:09:44I was ploughing money into a sinking ship.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46..a couple at the end of their tether...
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Martin almost collapsed one day with the strain of it all.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55..and the camera footage that shook their faith in the world.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57I felt faint.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I was in a complete state of utter shock.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Swanage, on the Dorset coast, is known for its sand,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15sea and - occasionally - its sunshine.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19That's what attracted local newsagents Martin and Betty
0:10:19 > 0:10:21here in the early 1990s.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Originally, they ran a boat business, and then a few years ago,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30they though they'd try something new, and bought the newsagents shop.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34It's a lovely place to live, it's got a nice little buzz.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36There's people, all walks of life.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Lovely for summer holidays, for young kids, camping.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44It suits everyone, it's a lovely area and very quaint.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48In 2008, with their children going to university, the couple
0:10:48 > 0:10:50decided to look for a new business
0:10:50 > 0:10:52to help them fund their kids' studies.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56We always used to come into this shop, and dare I say it, we
0:10:56 > 0:10:59used to think, that's a little gold mine, we wouldn't mind buying that.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Everyone knows it in Swanage as Jenkins, it's like a landmark.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08So when it came up for sale, we thought we'd give it a go.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09They borrowed from the bank,
0:11:09 > 0:11:14bought the shop and hired someone they trusted to be the manager.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16We employed a local woman that we both knew,
0:11:16 > 0:11:21we knew her family and her husband. She was very good at her job.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23We'd built the business up, we stayed open later than the
0:11:23 > 0:11:26previous people that owned the shop, and it was good.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29It was a lovely working atmosphere and that,
0:11:29 > 0:11:30and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33But that enjoyment was to prove short-lived.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40The couple noticed their profits begin to drop.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42In the first year, we were quite pleased,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45considering we were novices at the business.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Profits were up, the accountant was very pleased.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Second year, they dwindled a little bit.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54But then there was a little bit of recession at that time, we thought,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57there's a lot of online deliveries now, coming through in the area.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59And it just went down...
0:11:59 > 0:12:02The best way to say it is on a downward spiral.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05The worry takes its toll on Martin and Betty.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10For us as a family, it was extremely stressful.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Obviously, we've done this to better our lives,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15and to try and earn some money.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17It put so much strain on us both.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22By buying the shop, I was thinking my mind it was the worst thing
0:12:22 > 0:12:24I've ever done in my life.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27We had to borrow £25,000 off a friend just to buy stock.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31We had to use our credit cards to buy stock.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I was ploughing money into a sinking ship.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I just kind of hated myself.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Martin almost collapsed one day with the strain of it all,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42because it was just too much.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Desperately short of cash, the couple are forced to rent out
0:12:46 > 0:12:49their family home and move into a small flat above the shop.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56Their accountant, who's trying to help them save the business,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59comes up with a theory for their financial crisis.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02"I hate to say it", he said, "but have you got anyone stealing?"
0:13:02 > 0:13:04I thought, "That can't be."
0:13:04 > 0:13:07You might think someone would steal a bar of chocolate or
0:13:07 > 0:13:09a packet of crisps, but not to that extent.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13But they have to think the unthinkable.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Their business is losing money fast.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21Betty starts investigating, and soon spots something suspicious.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I was in the back office one day,
0:13:25 > 0:13:31and I saw the manageress' handbag, and it was open at the top.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33She saw in her handbag a packet of cigarettes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36These cigarettes, they were a limited edition,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38they hadn't been out very long.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41And our supplier had given us some to try and see if they sold.
0:13:41 > 0:13:47So I went to the till, and I checked all my sales from that morning,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49that she'd been on that shift
0:13:49 > 0:13:52and that brand had not been sold.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55So then, obviously, alarm bells start ringing.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57So she had a look a little bit more.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01I checked another brand of cigarettes that I knew she smoked,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05and there was three boxes of 20 cigarettes missing.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But the manageress has been a friend of the family for a long while.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Surely she can't be stealing from them?
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Betty waits for the woman to finish her shift.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Then, together with Martin,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21she checks out the shop's CCTV from that morning.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23It's the first time they've viewed
0:14:23 > 0:14:26the security camera footage for years.
0:14:26 > 0:14:33We discovered the continuous stealing from the till.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34Terrible.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36The camera doesn't lie.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40The manageress can be clearly seen taking money from the till
0:14:40 > 0:14:43and sneaking it into her handbag under the counter.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49We were absolutely...
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I don't know, it's like the bottom of our world dropped out.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55My legs went to jelly.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57I felt faint.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58I felt sick.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02I was in a complete state of utter shock.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08But their investigation is only just beginning.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13They look at security camera footage from previous days.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15The more we watched, the more we just couldn't believe it.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18It seemed like every customer, or every second customer coming in,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21she was either pocketing the money or stealing products.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23It was terrible.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25The recordings make for grim viewing.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31Their supposed friend is clearly nothing of the sort.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33She knew that we were going under.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38She knew, we told her, and she still played the innocent card.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41And the betrayal, we will never recover from the betrayal.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Now Betty and Martin must consider their next move.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50After a sleepless night, they decide to get more proof.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53We came through the shop,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55and she was a bit surprised to see us in the shop so early,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58and we walked through to the back office,
0:15:58 > 0:16:03and I kept the door closed, and we did look in her handbag.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07We found a little stealing bag, it was crammed full of £20 notes.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09I took photographs of it.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13And later on in the day, we looked on the CCTV again,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16and we could see that she'd actually stolen that money out of the
0:16:16 > 0:16:18safe in the morning, and put that into her handbag.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20When we were watching the footage,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23my wife, she was actually physically sick.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25They called the police.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27When we explained what had happened,
0:16:27 > 0:16:31we were told to secure the CCTV footage immediately.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36They sent a CID officer down, he saw a few clips, and then
0:16:36 > 0:16:41he decided with the sergeant to go and raid her flat that night.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43The woman is arrested and charged with theft.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50In court, the woman was found guilty of the theft of cash and
0:16:50 > 0:16:52goods worth more than £12,500.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58She was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for a year,
0:16:58 > 0:17:03and given a community order to do 130 hours unpaid work.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10She was also put under curfew for three months with an electronic tag.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Martin and Betty now have staff they can trust.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19And their business is back on track.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Things are so different now.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23The profit margin has gone up to nearly 27%,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26which is very good for a little convenience store.
0:17:26 > 0:17:27So we are on the up.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29We've got money now,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31although we have these debts that we have to pay,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41It's hard enough making a small business pay
0:17:41 > 0:17:44without somebody helping themselves to your takings.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48So what can business owners do to guard themselves from pilfering?
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Your business is often your livelihood.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54You could've invested your life savings into this.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57So don't be afraid to be suspicious of your employees.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59And if you've got security, like CCTV,
0:17:59 > 0:18:04that you can use to your advantage, then do so, check,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07if you've got a suspicion around a particular staff member,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09check the CCTV when they've been on duty.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11That way, you can either eliminate them,
0:18:11 > 0:18:16or you've obviously then found your suspect, so you can call the police.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's not about not trusting your staff, but being in a position
0:18:19 > 0:18:22where, if something does happen, something does get taken,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24that you have those processes in place
0:18:24 > 0:18:25to be able to provide the evidence.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Because without it, you're going to be on the back foot.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32My advice would be to contact your local police station,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36where crime prevention officers could come out,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39complete a survey of the business,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43internally and externally, and offer crime prevention advice.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46And that might be installing CCTV,
0:18:46 > 0:18:51some signage, better locks, security, bars on windows.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53There's whole host of things out there,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56but certainly, I would ask the police for some advice.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Earlier, we saw how the cameras had caught one Christmas criminal.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08But we've also come across another star of Christmas CCTV,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11who clearly doesn't believe in goodwill to all men.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Shopkeepers expect the festive season to be stressful,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21but they wouldn't expect to face
0:19:21 > 0:19:24a drive-by looting of their Christmas trees.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26And that's what this thief is banking on.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29A Christmas tree for free.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Like a commando raid, he's in and out before anyone notices.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Here it is again, in slow motion.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Boot open, and out he pops, like a jack-in-the-box.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Over to the tree display, picks his favourite,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50but will it fit in the car?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Course it will!
0:19:52 > 0:19:55This operation has been planned with military precision.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Except for one thing, that is.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02He's cunningly wearing a hoodie to cover his face -
0:20:02 > 0:20:06but he's stupidly forgotten to cover his car number plate.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09So this festive felon is heading for a Christmas visit -
0:20:09 > 0:20:12not from Santa... CELL DOOR SLAMS SHUT
0:20:12 > 0:20:14..but the police.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Back now to York city centre...
0:20:26 > 0:20:29..where after stopping a suspected bike thief, PC Rich Farah
0:20:29 > 0:20:33is facing a dangerous struggle in the middle of a busy road.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37The whole incident is being monitored by Colin -
0:20:37 > 0:20:39a sharp-eyed city camera operator.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Police backup is on the way, but Rich is in need of help right now.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46And he's about to get a lucky break.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Passing by in a taxi is a martial arts expert called Andy,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55who's on his way to A&E with a painful rib injury.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58We were just sat in the taxi, minding our own business,
0:20:58 > 0:20:59on the way to hospital.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Not actually knowing what was about to unfold in front of us.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Andy spots PC Rich Farah struggling to restrain the suspect.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09I had no idea who the guy was,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I had no idea why he was being arrested,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16or why he'd made a bid for freedom.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Rich and the suspect are in real danger.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23There was cars passing, taxis passing, and I was concerned,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27not just because of the male struggling violently with me,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29that I was going to get run over.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30Cameras, city centre.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34Colin is relaying the live camera images to police control.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And recording the incident for evidence.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40When you're watching something like that,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and the incident's escalating, you're powerless to do anything.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47You know police backup's on the way, which is a relief.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49You're quietly cheering on the police officer, shouting at
0:21:49 > 0:21:52the monitors as, hopefully, this thing's going to end well.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56It was violent, he was shouting and screaming.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59He was strong, he was trying to get his feet. He was kicking out.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03I still didn't know if he had anything on him.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05What went through my mind mainly was the fact
0:22:05 > 0:22:06that nobody was stopping to help.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10They were in a box junction, and there were vehicles either stopped,
0:22:10 > 0:22:15just waiting for things to develop, or driving round the officer.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18But martial arts expert Andy feels he can't just sit in
0:22:18 > 0:22:20the taxi watching what's happening.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Despite his painful rib injury, he intervenes.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28I decided, somebody's going to get hurt here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Some needs to take control, or at least help the guy out.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33They were going to get run over.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35That's when I threw the car door open,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37run across and grabbed the guy from behind.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I was wrestling with this male on the ground.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46This other person joined me.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49I wasn't sure if he was another offender,
0:22:49 > 0:22:50if he was a member of the public,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52if it was an off-duty police officer,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55if it was an on-duty police officer -
0:22:55 > 0:22:57I had something else to contend with.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03The person introduced himself and asked me if I needed any assistance.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07I said, "Yes, please, assist me."
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Andy warns the suspect, if he keeps fighting them,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12he will have to use his martial arts on him.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17You then think he'd realise that things weren't going quite his way.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21And he started to struggle and kick and try and escape.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Because the suspect refuses to submit, Andy puts his
0:23:24 > 0:23:28training to work and overpowers him with a martial arts hold.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32I tightened my grip for only a second,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36it did make him unconscious, but only for a second or so.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38The suspect is subdued.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Minutes later, the police backup arrives, and Rich makes his arrest.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46When the cuffs finally went on the male,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50and it was obvious he was detained, he couldn't get away,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53there was both relief that the situation had come to a close.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56The satisfaction that the police have got their man.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00But Colin's CCTV skills are about to be needed again.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03The police backup arrives,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05the male goes into the back of the police van.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09I put the cameras back into their home positions, everything's calm.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12I'm getting ready to download the footage,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14because I knew the police would want a copy of this.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16And then the officer radios up, saying,
0:24:16 > 0:24:17"Can you put the camera on me?"
0:24:17 > 0:24:21I went back where we initially had the struggle, where the bicycle was.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24I was picking up my personal equipment from the floor,
0:24:24 > 0:24:25and I thought, "Oh, my God,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28"there's a butchers knife laying next to my equipment
0:24:28 > 0:24:29"in the gutter."
0:24:30 > 0:24:33The 12-inch knife could belong to the suspect,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35which would escalate the charges against him.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40But Rich needs proof, and that's where Colin comes in again.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43After the police officer bent down and picked this knife up,
0:24:43 > 0:24:45it was like, where's that come from?
0:24:45 > 0:24:49So I reviewed the footage, and, at the very start of it,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53when the male first goes down on the floor,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55if you look carefully, you can actually see the knife
0:24:55 > 0:24:57fall out the back of this male's trousers.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So it was rather shocking that it was actually there.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08You can quite clearly see this large knife
0:25:08 > 0:25:10sticking out the back of his trousers.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12It's not bolt croppers,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15that I thought he had on his person when I was searching him for
0:25:15 > 0:25:18items that we used to steal this bike or any other bike.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21I thought, flipping heck, this could have ended
0:25:21 > 0:25:25so much differently had it not ejected from his clothing.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28The news comes as a shock to Andy too.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32My first thought was, where was it when I actually had hold of him,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35when they said the guy had a 12-inch kitchen knife.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I can understand why people don't get involved,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41it's not always what you see at that moment, it's the whole, big picture.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Once that all comes into play, you realise things could've got
0:25:44 > 0:25:47a whole lot worse for everybody involved.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49York isn't the crime capital of the north,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53we don't have a weapons culture here.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57And to see something like that on a Saturday afternoon did come
0:25:57 > 0:25:59as quite a surprise and a bit of a shock, really.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04Colin's footage proves the suspect is guilty of carrying a blade.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08The offender could quite easily have denied any knowledge of this knife,
0:26:08 > 0:26:10that it wasn't his, it didn't belong to him.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17But the CCTV quite clearly shows that this butchers knife was
0:26:17 > 0:26:21not just on him, but it was secreted down the back of his trousers.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25York CCTV operations manager, Christian Wood,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27often provides crucial footage like this
0:26:27 > 0:26:30to the Crown Prosecution Service.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31One of the benefits of CCTV
0:26:31 > 0:26:33is that it can help prevent long court cases.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36If you have footage of the actual incident,
0:26:36 > 0:26:40quite often defendants will see that and just plead guilty straightaway.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46And in court, the suspect did plead guilty to resisting arrest
0:26:46 > 0:26:47and carrying the knife.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57News of the incident reached Andy's loved ones,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02and he got mixed feedback about putting his own life in danger.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05The reaction from friends and family was mostly positive.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Some said, I wouldn't have got involved.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Others were like, you did what he had to do,
0:27:09 > 0:27:14and you knew what you was going to do, and everything was fine.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16So, yeah, it's been pretty positive.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18I don't think it's brave or naive,
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I think I just did what I did without even thinking about it.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24It was just a situation unfolding in front of us,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and we helped the guy take control.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29It was just right place, right time.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33But Rich thinks Andy may well have saved his life.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Thank you to Andy for stepping in and coming to my assistance.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41He could quite easily have stayed in the taxi that he was in.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42He could have gone on his way.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45But if it wasn't for Andy's assistance,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48this incident could've ended so much differently.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55That's all we have time for today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57An increasing number of criminals
0:27:57 > 0:27:59are being captured on camera every year.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Join us next time to see more villains
0:28:01 > 0:28:03who've been Caught Red Handed.