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 > 0:00:13But now the police are using cutting-edge technology to catch the bad guys.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16CCTV is gold dust.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- Great evidence for the police. - Got to have him stopped.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Local councils, shops and businesses
0:00:21 > 0:00:24are fighting crime with their own tricks and traps.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27There's an 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 > 0:00:32get their comeuppance.
0:00:32 > 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'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 - suddenly, armed robbers leap over the counters
0:00:55 > 0:00:57of a shop in a shocking attack.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02The owner, Ali, puts his life on the line so his colleagues can escape.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06I knew I had to do something to divert his attention
0:01:06 > 0:01:08so the girls could run to safety.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11But his assistant, Pav, doesn't want to leave her boss behind.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16He was bleeding on the back of his head. I felt like I should help him.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Also today - 80-year-old Mel is targeted by a predatory thief.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Cameras at a motorway services show what Mel can't see -
0:01:26 > 0:01:31her every move is being stalked by a shadowy stranger.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35It's awful to think that somebody is actually following you,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37got you in their sights.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40This man in the cap preys on older people.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42But police are on his trail.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45The hunter's about to become the hunted.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50And Tracey is the manager of a women-only gym.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53No men obviously come into the club, unless something needs fixing.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55They're good for something.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59But late one night, a man does come in, and he's up to no good.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03I want to scream at the screen and say, "That's my stuff! Give it me back!"
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Long-term Newcastle resident Ali has run a shop
0:02:18 > 0:02:22with a Post Office in the West End of the city for seven years.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25I used to have a coach company before this.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27I've always got on well with the public
0:02:27 > 0:02:29and that's what I love about this job.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31You see all different kinds of people coming in.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36I'm doing something helpful and it's a really huge part of my life.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Pav has been a member of Ali's team for four years.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Ali, generally, he just likes to have a joke with all the customers.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Never takes anything too seriously.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Which is good. You need to have a laugh.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53But Ali and Pav are about to face a situation
0:02:53 > 0:02:56which is as serious as it gets.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03It's late morning in November.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Ali's behind the shop counter
0:03:05 > 0:03:08and Pav is in the separate Post Office section of the store
0:03:08 > 0:03:09with a female colleague.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13The store's security cameras
0:03:13 > 0:03:16show how this man in a blue hoodie approaches the shop.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21He walks in and heads straight to Ali.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24This guy came in with a hood on
0:03:24 > 0:03:26and he came to my counter first
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and then to the Post Office counter.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32The man goes over to where Pav is serving another customer.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35He then leaves without doing any business,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and makes a call on his phone.
0:03:38 > 0:03:4220 minutes later, he comes back with another man in a hoodie.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47The men enter the store and split up.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And then, suddenly, this quiet morning takes a violent turn.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58One of the men launches himself across the counter to attack Ali.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01I couldn't believe my eyes.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I thought it was just a disgruntled customer, you know.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09When he jumped over the counter and struggled with me,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12that's when I realised that it was a lot more serious
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and I had to sort of defend myself.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Pav watches on - horrified.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19There were things flying all over.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22You know, he was really laying into him.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I felt like I should help him, but at the same time,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29I thought if I go out there, help him, he could attack myself.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Ali realises the man has a weapon.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34He held a knife to my throat.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37He shouted, "Give me the money! Give me the money!"
0:04:38 > 0:04:41But on the other side of the shop, there's more horror to come
0:04:41 > 0:04:45when the robber's accomplice jumps onto the Post Office counter.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Pav and her colleague are terrified.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50He just shouted, "Give us your cash!"
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Seeing him holding a knife, you fear for your life.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56I thought, you know, he's going to jump over.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58If he jumps over, then what do I do?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00One of them was threatening the girls.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05I knew I had to do something to divert his attention
0:05:05 > 0:05:07so the girls could run to safety.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09That's why I struggled with my guy.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Ali takes on the man with the knife and gets pushed to the floor.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19The robber reaches for the money in the till,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22but Ali keeps fighting and wrestles him away.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27As Ali hopes, the robber's accomplice is distracted
0:05:27 > 0:05:30by the struggle and Pav realises there could be a chance
0:05:30 > 0:05:32to escape into the back office.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I could see the key on the ledge, where we keep it,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and I just thought, I've just got to grab that key.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40If I don't and he jumps over, then it could get a lot worse.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45But Pav doesn't want to go for the key while the robber's watching her.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Ali continues to fight.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48He couldn't get the better of me,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52so he called his friend over to give him a hand.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Ali's plan has worked.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56When the other robber leaves the Post Office section,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Pav gets the key and escapes with her colleague.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05But Ali is now outnumbered.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07I got the full brunt of both of them.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11And suddenly, Ali's situation becomes even more serious.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16Both men have knives and the second robber aims his knife at Ali's head.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I was feeling sharp blows
0:06:19 > 0:06:22and the blood was trickling down the back of my neck.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24It was really horrible.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Pav is absolutely horrified
0:06:26 > 0:06:29as she watches through the back office window.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33You feel really helpless. I got the phone, I dialled 999.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36But Ali's resistance has paid off.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40The robbers give up on the raid and flee from the store.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44I tried to stop one of them from jumping back over the counter,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47but I think I was too tired after that.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51The men run out of the shop and Ali chases after them.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56There was no plan, I just wanted to see where they'd gone to
0:06:56 > 0:06:59so I could let the police know where they were.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Ali loses sight of the robbers, but thanks to his bravery,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05they've gone away empty-handed.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08When they finally left, it was a sense of relief.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11You know, they've gone, I can go out and see if Ali's all right.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I was just hyper.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19He was bleeding on the back of his head and on his forehead.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Obviously, he was shocked and a little bit upset.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24The knife was hitting me on the back of the head.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Thank God that's one of the hardest parts for knives to pierce, as well.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34It was, er... And luckily, I got away with minor injuries.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Within minutes, the police arrive and start gathering evidence.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44To the relief of PC Phil Thoburn, who's heading the investigation,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46several witnesses come forward.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48The first witness had simply seen
0:07:48 > 0:07:51two men running quickly away from the Post Office.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54The witness thought, "Well, this must be something".
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The witness says the men ran down a lane near Ali's store.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Luckily, another resident near the bottom of the street
0:08:02 > 0:08:04directed police to a house
0:08:04 > 0:08:06where they saw two males going in through the back door.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Police knock on the door, but no-one answers.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15So they force entry and find two men inside.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18Both males insist their innocence,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20claim that the police have woke them up.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24The officers search the house and find hidden clothes and trainers.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27This clothing becomes crucial to the investigation
0:08:27 > 0:08:28because it matches up
0:08:28 > 0:08:31with the clothing worn by the offenders caught on CCTV.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35The suspects are arrested and taken into custody.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Both denied the offence.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40It's always the police's responsibility to prove identification.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Phil re-examines the CCTV.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46We were fortunate that whilst this was a planned robbery,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49you'd have to say the offenders weren't good at it.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52They weren't good at it because you see as they come into the store
0:08:52 > 0:08:54that they offer up a clear facial shot.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57As they come in, facial shots.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00All great for identification from a police perspective.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03The images look identical to the men they've just arrested.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05And that's not all.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The two counters the offenders had jumped upon were examined
0:09:08 > 0:09:11and from there, two footprints were recovered.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14These two footprints have been examined against the footwear
0:09:14 > 0:09:17recovered from the offenders and we established
0:09:17 > 0:09:21that the same size and model of footwear corresponded exactly.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Faced with this damning evidence, both men admit to the crime.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29I was overwhelmed that they caught them the same day.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31I just couldn't believe it.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37In court, the 22-year-old who first attacked Ali
0:09:37 > 0:09:39was jailed for four years.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46The 19-year-old who threatened Pav before joining in the assault on Ali
0:09:46 > 0:09:49was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Despite the ordeal, life soon returned to normal for Ali and Pav.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I wasn't going to let the two young lads scare us
0:10:02 > 0:10:03or put us off coming into work.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07All of the regular customers were lovely.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11They all came in to ask how we were doing and they were really concerned.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14So it was quite nice to know you're cared for.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20I was really, really happy that they didn't get away with anything
0:10:20 > 0:10:24and I was really proud of myself as well. I had that satisfied feeling.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26That was really nice.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Fortunately, not all crime is serious crime,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43not while there are inept criminals like these two.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47They're trying to break in to these premises late at night.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52Strange choice. It's not a bank, nor a shop. It's an estate agents.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55But they're clearly keen to view this property.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58One of them casually leans against the door,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01trying to look innocent, before breaking the lower window.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02GLASS SMASHES
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Maybe they think the door needs a cat flap,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09but as they crawl through it, it's obvious these two are no cat
0:11:09 > 0:11:13burglars because they get in a right flap when the alarm goes off.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18And they run around like Tom and Jerry,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22before deciding to turn tail back through the flap.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27An estate agents isn't exactly a prime location for
0:11:27 > 0:11:29a burglary anyway.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32There's nothing to steal, just pens and property details.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And they left behind a couple of important details themselves.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41They didn't cover their faces.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43The footage has been handed to the police
0:11:43 > 0:11:47who hope somebody can identify these two prize properties,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50so that they can be taken off the market.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58It's important to keep an eye on our debit and credit cards
0:11:58 > 0:12:02because some light-fingered criminals will do just about
0:12:02 > 0:12:04anything to get their dirty mitts on our plastic.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13The popular seaside resort of Scarborough is home
0:12:13 > 0:12:16to 80-year-old Mel and her husband of 57 years, John.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19They loved visiting the town so much,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23they decided to move here in 1998.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25It is lovely.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I often don't draw the curtains.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32I wake up in the morning to sunshine mainly.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36And the sunsets we get are fabulous!
0:12:36 > 0:12:41But nice as Scarborough is, it can get chilly during the winter, so Mel
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and John occasionally go to Florida to soak up the sun,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47while splashing out on presents for their grandchildren.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52At that time of year, it's perfect. I love it.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Mel sometimes has to go out to America ahead of John because
0:12:55 > 0:12:57of his work commitments.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Even though she finds it difficult to walk,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Mel doesn't let it stop her travelling alone.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06As soon as I get to the airport, there's a wheelchair.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08And everybody is so nice.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14But Mel's latest trip to America almost ends in heartbreak,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17when she becomes the target of a ruthless thief.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25It's just before Christmas and Mel's driving down to stay with her
0:13:25 > 0:13:28son near Gatwick, before her flight the next day.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32After a short stint behind the wheel, she feels she needs a break.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Once you start wanting the loo, you want the loo.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40She pulls in to a service station on the M1 in Derbyshire.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- There was a knock on the window. - KNOCK ON THE WINDOW
0:13:44 > 0:13:49And there was this man and he made a sign with his hands that
0:13:49 > 0:13:52he wanted money and he wanted to eat.
0:13:52 > 0:13:59So I said, "I'm sorry, do you speak English?" "No, no, no."
0:13:59 > 0:14:02So I just got my purse and I emptied it.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05There was only about 40-odd pence.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10He didn't say thank you, which was naughty. And off he went.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Mel gets out of the car and puts her purse in her jacket pocket.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18She doesn't realise it, but she's being watched.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23The service station's CCTV shows Mel making her way in to the services.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25On the other side of the entrance,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29the cameras show the man she gave money to has come in ahead of her.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33He's waiting with another man and a woman.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I saw the man sitting on a bench and he looked at me and
0:14:37 > 0:14:43he didn't show any recognition at all and I thought, you know,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45it would have been polite.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50But Mel certainly does have the attention of the man in the flat cap.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53He follows her with his friends.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56As Mel browses round the shops, he stays close by.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Distracted, she doesn't realise she's being stalked.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04She pauses at a book stand.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08The man's companion appears to put her hand towards Mel's pocket...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12..but quickly pulls it away again when
0:15:12 > 0:15:14a member of the public walks close by.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Oblivious to what's happening, Mel strolls on,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21out of sight of the cameras.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24The man in the flat cap follows.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29Ten minutes later, when Mel gets back to her car, she gets a shock.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I put my hand in my pocket and there was no purse.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36After searching the car, she thinks she must have dropped the purse
0:15:36 > 0:15:38and retraces her steps to try and find it.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41But no joy.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47So I've lost my driving licence and all of my cards and £400.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50She's now stranded and calls her husband,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53who drives down to meet her at the service station.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57My husband came and gave me some more money.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00And off I went.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Mel continues to her son's house,
0:16:02 > 0:16:07where next morning a security man from the service station calls her.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12Having watched the CCTV, he suspects she's a victim of pickpocketing.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14I just couldn't believe it.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16You know, I just...
0:16:16 > 0:16:21It really must be awful, that that's your way of living,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24is taking money from people.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28I didn't feel kindly about him, whoever he was!
0:16:31 > 0:16:34It turns out there are other victims who don't feel too kindly
0:16:34 > 0:16:37about the man in the flat cap either.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Detective Sergeant Kev Morrissey from Buxton Police Station in
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Derbyshire has been investigating a spate of crimes that bear
0:16:45 > 0:16:47similar hallmarks to Mel's theft.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50One of the saddest aspects of this investigation really,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54virtually every victim that we've dealt with,
0:16:54 > 0:16:59apart from the odd one or two, have been elderly, female and vulnerable.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Kev is gathering CCTV evidence of the crimes which have been happening
0:17:04 > 0:17:08around supermarkets too and he's noticed there's one person
0:17:08 > 0:17:14who keeps popping up in the footage. The man in the flat cap.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Here, he's seen standing next to an elderly couple.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21As they turn to leave, the couple are crowded and jostled.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25While she's distracted, the woman's purse vanishes from her handbag.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28They're just going about their daily business and they don't
0:17:28 > 0:17:31realise they've just been a victim of theft.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Kev continues to build up CCTV evidence against the man.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38While some of the crimes are pickpocketing,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40others are more sophisticated,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43as this footage from another shop shows.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46This time, he's not got his hat on.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49His target is this customer paying at the checkout.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51He goes and stands behind her.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56The victim's now putting her card in to the PIN card machine and
0:17:56 > 0:17:59she's now putting her PIN number in.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03And he's in a perfect position to spy the woman's PIN number.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05She's now about to push her trolley over,
0:18:05 > 0:18:10there's the principle offender that has been stood there all the time.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13The man then follows her to the car park and steals her handbag
0:18:13 > 0:18:16while she's putting her shopping in to her car.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Later, he uses the PIN number to take £500 from her bank account.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23It's horrendous, horrible.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Kev is appalled when he sees Mel
0:18:26 > 0:18:29being targeted at the service station.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34He saw Mel sort of shuffling along and saw how vulnerable she was.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36This makes me so angry.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39They're so close and yet she's completely oblivious,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41completely unaware, of what's going to happen.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45You almost want to tap her on the shoulder and say, "Look behind you."
0:18:45 > 0:18:49He suspects this prolific thief's crimes extend far beyond
0:18:49 > 0:18:54Derbyshire, so sends a still image of him to forces across the country.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Out of the 43 forces that I put the bulletin out to,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02I think I had 35 responses, that people had similar problems.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05A police officer in Bedfordshire recognised my image and sent
0:19:05 > 0:19:08me an e-mail back, saying, "This is the man you're looking for.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09"I've had dealings with him."
0:19:11 > 0:19:15The officer gives Kev the suspect's name and tells him the man is
0:19:15 > 0:19:18from Eastern Europe and travels home regularly.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Kev sends his image to ports and airports all over the UK and
0:19:21 > 0:19:24the man is soon stopped, trying to board a flight.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Done a check on him, realised he was wanted by a number of forces,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and stopped the flight and arrested him.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34The 27-year-old suspect is interviewed under caution.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Faced with the evidence Kev has built up against him,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40the man admits to committing many crimes across the UK.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47In court, he was sentenced to a year and nine months in prison.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55When Mel sees for the first time the footage of how she was
0:19:55 > 0:19:57targeted, she's horrified.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01It's awful to think that you're just sort of wandering around and
0:20:01 > 0:20:03somebody's actually following you.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06They've got you in their sights.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09I certainly am a little bit more careful now.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14But what about your holiday, Mel? How did it go?
0:20:14 > 0:20:20It was lovely. When John came, it was smashing. We had a nice time.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Thieves can find it all too easy to steal from us when we're out
0:20:29 > 0:20:31and about and distracted by what we're doing.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34So, what can we do to keep them at bay?
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Keep your valuable items somewhere completely safe,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39so if you're carrying a handbag,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42make sure it's across your body, rather than just along the side.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Gents, don't put your wallet in your back pocket,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46where it's really easy to be taken.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48And concentrate on your surroundings.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Don't always focus on your mobile phone while you're walking down the road.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Sometimes the way we act can deter a thief from targeting us.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00So for example, if we are confident, we walk with purpose, and we act
0:21:00 > 0:21:03like we know what we're doing, then often they won't bother approaching.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Distraction doesn't just take place in the street.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Sometimes, people pretending to be from the water board or from
0:21:09 > 0:21:13the gas company may turn up and try and distract you on your doorstep.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15So don't shy away from challenging them.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Close the door while you check their credentials and if that means
0:21:18 > 0:21:20ringing the company, that's fine.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Like most towns these days,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Warrington in Cheshire has dozens of fitness centres.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38One of them, a women-only health club,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42was opened by Tracey and her friend Kim ten years ago.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Tracey had wanted to run a gym from an early age.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50When I was 17, I saw a job advertisement for
0:21:50 > 0:21:53a gym instructor and I actually went for the job and they said,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55"You're not a qualified gym instructor."
0:21:55 > 0:21:56I said, "I know, but I want to be."
0:21:56 > 0:22:00And they said, "We quite like your attitude, yeah. We'll train you."
0:22:00 > 0:22:02And I was general manager by 18.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05But three years later, the company left the area.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I was devastated, but I had all these members with nowhere to go,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11so I found this place.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Tracey rents a section of a former factory called Evans House,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18now a busy centre full of separate businesses.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22David Evans recently took over the running of the building from
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- his father.- Evans House is a family-run business.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27We used to manufacture tents.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30After that, we predominantly started investing in commercial property.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32We ended up with this big building.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34A lot of the tenants will have been here for a long, long time.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37It's almost not a business centre. It's almost a community hub.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Tracey's decision to move to Evans House and make the health club
0:22:40 > 0:22:44female-only has proved a resounding success.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48No men obviously come into the club, unless something needs fixing.
0:22:48 > 0:22:49They're good for something.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52But obviously, with us being a ladies only club, it's very
0:22:52 > 0:22:55rare for a man to come in and it's a very personal space for us.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58It is a ladies-only gym for that reason.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01But one night, a man does enter the club.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05He's not there to fix something though. He's there to take things.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11It's just gone 11pm.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15A guard from a security company patrols the building at night.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19The arrangement is he calls David if anything's wrong.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21And he's just called.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24You get the phone call and you think, "I know what this is going to be."
0:23:24 > 0:23:27It's the right time. And it comes up on my phone as Sentry Security.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30David phones the police and goes to the building.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33When he gets there, he finds a pane of toughened glass
0:23:33 > 0:23:35has been smashed in the door to Tracey's gym.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37You could see on the other side that there was
0:23:37 > 0:23:39a breezeblock and quite a lot of shattered glass,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42so obviously, that was what they'd used to get through the door.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46At home, Tracey discovers two missed calls from David and rings him back.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Obviously, for David to be ringing me at half 11,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51something is seriously wrong. Has the whole building burned down?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54And then obviously, he answered and said,
0:23:54 > 0:23:55"You've had a break in at the club."
0:23:55 > 0:24:00While Tracey heads to the gym, David bravely decides to go inside,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03even though intruders could still be there.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I don't know whether they've broken in five minutes ago or five
0:24:06 > 0:24:08hours ago and that's why I wanted to have a look.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11David goes through the hole in the door,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13so he can open a fire exit to let police officers in.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Tracey arrives soon after.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Not thinking about it,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I was crawling on my hands and knees to get through.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23- It's quite a small door.- Cut all his arms and hands at the same time.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Bleeding all over the place,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26but didn't really have time to complain about it.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29He was more concerned about us, the club.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32He wanted to make sure it was OK. I think that kind of took over.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I had to go to the back of the unit as fast as possible to let
0:24:35 > 0:24:38the police in, just in case anyone was in there because on my own,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I've no idea how many people there were at this point.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45David opens the fire doors for the police and they start searching.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Tracey's anxious to see what's happened.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I'm thinking, "Has my gym equipment gone?" That'd be disastrous for me.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54So I open the door and just pure relief that all the equipment
0:24:54 > 0:24:59is still there, just shining at me. All the lights are still flashing.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02There's no sign of the intruders, but they do find that drawers,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05bags and cupboards have been rifled through.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Tracey's distraught when she realises her laptop is missing.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11I would do anything to have that laptop back.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It's got ten years' worth of marketing, promotions.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17But it's also got personal things on there as well.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Obviously, pictures of my kids, my wedding, obviously they've all gone.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24David checks the night's CCTV recording.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27He has cameras that overlook all the building's entry points.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30That's when we went through all the footage and found the last
0:25:30 > 0:25:33person in the building. Clear as day.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Straight up the stairs with a breezeblock in hand.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39He shows the footage to Tracey and the police.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43This is him then. On here is a list of where all the businesses are.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46So it's like he's picking which one that he's going to go in to.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49The man goes outside to pick up a breezeblock.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53While the building's entrance door's open until late in the evening,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56the businesses inside are all locked up.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Here he comes in now with his breezeblock in his hand.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02But this intruder clearly isn't the sharpest of criminals.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05You can see there, he's got nothing to cover his face,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08no gloves on, his prints are everywhere.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11And obviously, he'll come up the stairs now to the club.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The burglar spends half an hour in the gym.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18The CCTV cameras pick him up again, as he's leaving.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21When you see him with the bag, there... Oh, my God!
0:26:21 > 0:26:23That's like one of my girls' bags.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25I want to scream at the screen and say, "That's my stuff!
0:26:25 > 0:26:27"Give it me back!"
0:26:27 > 0:26:31And inside the bag is Tracey's precious laptop.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36You can see him there, he's got my laptop cable round his mouth.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Why he does that, I don't know.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40And then as he walks back down the stairs,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43he puts his hand there, they've got fingerprints from that.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46And then he's got the laptop cable, just trailing behind.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Not bothered in the slightest about looking after it.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51He's just obviously taken it to sell it.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The police take still images from the footage to try and
0:26:54 > 0:26:58identify the man and David also wants to do some detective work.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Ever since I took over running the family business,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I've decided to use social media a lot more in marketing and I
0:27:04 > 0:27:07just thought - there must be someone who knows this gentleman.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Let's go and put it on social media and see what happens.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13So I did the same on my personal social media account.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17And within minutes, it was everywhere.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Tracey finds the response from friends and strangers reassuring.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23When you've been broken into, you think that the world's against you.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27But people come to you and say, "Well, what can we do to help you?"
0:27:27 > 0:27:29It's really humbling to think that people are like that really.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33We got about 20,000 likes on it and we knew very quickly who the
0:27:33 > 0:27:36gentleman was, or at least had the idea to pass on to the police then.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39The police had identified the same suspect.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42They soon track him down and arrest him.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48In court, he pleaded guilty to the burglary and was also found
0:27:48 > 0:27:50guilty of possession of a weapon.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Tracey didn't let the burglary throw her business off track.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- She was soon back in the saddle. - Nothing stops us.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06It was actually our ten year anniversary that weekend that
0:28:06 > 0:28:10he broke in. So I was determined I would not be shut at all.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13So by ten o'clock, we were open.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17And the thief had better steer clear of Tracey's gym from now on.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19If this man was ever to step foot anywhere near here,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22they'd have 1,000 members ready to pin him down.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29That's all for today.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Thousands of criminals are captured on camera every year.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Make sure you join us next time to see more villains who've been
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Caught Red Handed.