0:00:02 > 0:00:05Thieves will steal our cash, our cars, our valuables,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07just 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.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15We want to make sure we've got a concrete case.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Enough evidence to convict at court.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Local councils, shops,
0:00:19 > 0:00:23and businesses are fighting crime with their own tricks and traps.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Just unbelievable that she thinks she can get away with this.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29And the public are using secret cameras
0:00:29 > 0:00:32to make sure the crooks get their comeuppance.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Fair means or foul, I was going to get rid of him.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36I thought, "We've got her!"
0:00:36 > 0:00:39And I was so happy, thank God!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42So anyone who's up to no good
0:00:42 > 0:00:44had better think twice,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47they might just get caught red-handed.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Today, three burglars jump for joy like young kids.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57They've spotted an unguarded safe
0:00:57 > 0:00:59in a business that's shut for the weekend.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02It belongs to David and Sue.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04They act like they've hit the jackpot,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07leaping around and fist-pumping each other.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09I see my children get excited like that when they get their toys.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13But one of the burglars has made a mistake,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16he doesn't realise that new police technology
0:01:16 > 0:01:20can find out who he is, even though he's wearing a mask and gloves.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Also today, shop owner Tinnie is working alone
0:01:24 > 0:01:29when a robber bursts in demanding cash at knife point.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I asked him, "Can I help you?" Then he pulled the knife out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35It was scary, scary.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37But the robber's in for a shock.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42This friendly local shopkeeper just happens to be a martial arts expert.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45She bravely grabs the hand holding the knife,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48but now she's stuck and daren't let go.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Also later, a truck driver drives up to a beautiful park and casually
0:01:53 > 0:01:57dumps several tonnes of waste right in the entrance.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Park manager Ian is appalled.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02We've never had anything that scale here before,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04two and a half, three cubic metres of stuff,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06no-one can get in, no-one can get out,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08just that someone would be that thoughtless.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11The culprit's number plate isn't visible,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13but one man decides to get down and dirty
0:02:13 > 0:02:15to search the whole pile by hand,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18and sets off on a fascinating trail of clues.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Every year, over half a million new businesses are started in Britain by
0:02:28 > 0:02:31people dreaming of a bright future.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Sometimes they've invested their life savings,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37but burglars couldn't care less about that.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39All they're interested in is easy cash.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47On an industrial estate in the town of Totton,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51there's an e-cigarette business that was sparked off four years ago
0:02:51 > 0:02:54by owners David and Sue, who are starting a new life together.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56They met while doing the school run
0:02:56 > 0:02:58with their children from previous marriages.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03This would never have happened if me and David hadn't met each other.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07We sort of, kind of, just gelled you know, from day one.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Their friendship soon grew into romance,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13but there was one thing about Sue that David found
0:03:13 > 0:03:14well, a bit of a drag.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17I used to go outside and smoke cigarettes,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19or my roll-up, and I used to feel so guilty
0:03:19 > 0:03:22coming back in smelling of cigarettes,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24David not being a smoker.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Sue decided she wanted to give up smoking,
0:03:27 > 0:03:29so David suggested e-cigarettes,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31which deliver nicotine via a vapour,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33which is safer than smoke.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Though it's not as good as giving up completely,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Sue was convinced it was better than the alternative.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It's a good thing, hair, skin, body,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44everything, you name it, it's better.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Sue's positive experience ignited an idea in David.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51This is a great invention,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54it's changing your life,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57we need to help other people do the same.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00So Sue and David decided to open an e-cigarette shop together.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03I've helped my friends,
0:04:03 > 0:04:04I've helped family members,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and it's just incredible when you get them off the cigarettes,
0:04:07 > 0:04:08it just means the world.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14But one weekend, David and Sue's business attracts some visitors
0:04:14 > 0:04:17who aren't looking to give up smoking.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19They're looking to steal some cash.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25It's a Sunday afternoon in the spring,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28their store's closed, and David's at home with Sue
0:04:28 > 0:04:31preparing lunch when the phone rings.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34It's a security monitoring station calling to say they
0:04:34 > 0:04:37received a signal from the shop's burglar alarm.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40My initial thoughts were, "Oh, my God, what's going on?
0:04:40 > 0:04:41"What the hell's happened?
0:04:41 > 0:04:43"Has somebody gone into building?
0:04:43 > 0:04:44"Is the building on fire?"
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Your heart sinks and you just think...
0:04:46 > 0:04:49We had to just turn everything off,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52we had to turn all the dinner off, and literally peg it out the door.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It's a half-hour drive to get there.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57We were both nervous to see what we were going to find.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00What destruction are you going to walk into?
0:05:00 > 0:05:04When they arrive, the police are already outside,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06it's clear there's been a break in.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09The door had been wrenched open,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12walking in, there was just a mess everywhere.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Some of their stock is scattered across the floor.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18It was a horrible sinking feeling, you know?
0:05:19 > 0:05:22It's like somebody's entered your house and stolen things,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25cos it is our second home and it's not nice.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29The shop's in such disarray they're not sure what's missing,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31so David and a police officer go through
0:05:31 > 0:05:34the security camera recording to see if it provides any clues.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39We looked at the CCTV and we could see exactly what was going on
0:05:39 > 0:05:42and it just literally spooled out for a hour and a half.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47They see three men walking to the industrial estate.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51They start to glove up here, and put their hoods on.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53The men walk up to the shop,
0:05:53 > 0:05:58and it soon becomes clear these are not the smartest criminals in town.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01This guy here looks at the camera,
0:06:01 > 0:06:03and then suddenly goes "Oh!"
0:06:03 > 0:06:04And then he points it out.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06If that would have been me at that point,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I think I would have just left the scene.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12The trio don't seem to have a specific aim at this point.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14They have a look at the van here, you know,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17half of me thinks that this may have been the target, I don't know.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21I don't think they really knew what they were looking for
0:06:21 > 0:06:22until they saw the safe.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Then one of the men looks through a window and sees a safe under
0:06:26 > 0:06:30a counter. A camera inside records the sound and vision of their
0:06:30 > 0:06:32excitement when he tells the others what he's spotted.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41They act like they've hit the jackpot,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45leaping around and fist-bumping each other, "Yeah".
0:06:45 > 0:06:48They literally thought it was Christmas,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51I mean, you know, I see my children get excited like that when they get
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- their toys.- "Yeah, we got the jackpot!" No, you haven't.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59Little do they know, the safe only hold around £60 in coins.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02So now the planning begins.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Planning might be overstating it.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07One of them giddily runs off in search of tools
0:07:07 > 0:07:08to help them break in.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Soon the men return with metal beams and wooden planks
0:07:14 > 0:07:16to smash the burglar alarms.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20One of them has to climb up to complete the job.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26They then run off with the boxes, the alarm would be triggered,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30"Let's get out of here, let's see if anybody turns up."
0:07:30 > 0:07:33But nobody does turn up.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35And so later, the men return with a crowbar.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40And this was when they finally did the deed.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43They lever open the door.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46The problem is, you know, breaking through a door is one thing,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48but the damage they cause to the framework
0:07:48 > 0:07:50it meant the whole lot had to come out.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54The buildings internal alarms are triggered,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56so the burglars race to the safe.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59They literally leap over the counter, straight down to the safe.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Grabbed a few bits and pieces, shoved it in his pockets,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05"We'll have that, we'll have that."
0:08:05 > 0:08:08The men are in the building for less than 90 seconds,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12but that's long enough to cause an enormous amount of damage.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17To add insult to injury,
0:08:17 > 0:08:18on the way out, one of the clowns,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22he literally got a crowbar and he ripped the keypad off the wall,
0:08:22 > 0:08:23and walked off with it.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Which meant we couldn't set the alarm.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28With only £60 in the safe,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31the burglars had managed to steal just £20 each.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Doesn't really add up when the damage
0:08:35 > 0:08:38they caused was about £4,000 worth of damage.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And the way we feel, you know,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43how we feel inside, being violated like that.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46It's crazy, it's crazy.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Because they can't reset the alarm,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Sue insists on staying the night at the shop.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53They blocked the broken door with a van
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and David goes home to be with the children.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58I was like, "You go, I'm staying."
0:08:58 > 0:09:02He wasn't happy about that but that's what happened.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The next day, David goes back through the footage
0:09:05 > 0:09:07with a forensic officer to look for evidence.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12The burglars had worn gloves and left no fingerprints or DNA
0:09:12 > 0:09:16inside the building, and their faces were never identifiable,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20but the officer still analyses the recording closely.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22One lad made a bit of a boo-boo.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25There was one point on the window ledge
0:09:25 > 0:09:27that he had actually grabbed hold of
0:09:27 > 0:09:29whilst ripping the alarm box off the wall.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Even though he was wearing gloves, it turns out the burglar might still
0:09:33 > 0:09:35have left some of his DNA on the ledge.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Police technology is now so sophisticated
0:09:38 > 0:09:40they can even detect skin cells
0:09:40 > 0:09:43that might have been forced through the fabric of a glove.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46The forensic officer goes to take a look,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and finds the man did indeed leave
0:09:48 > 0:09:50a little bit of himself behind.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53That was the point of no return for him.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57The forensic team identifies who the man is from his DNA,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00officers track him down and arrest him.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02David and Sue are given the good news.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07It was brilliant, it's like, great, at least they've got one of them.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Delighted. Cracking job the police did.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14It was a nice feeling knowing it wasn't a personal attack,
0:10:14 > 0:10:16and knowing that they just were some random idiots
0:10:16 > 0:10:20basically, that decided to break in to our premises.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26In court, the man pleaded guilty to burglary,
0:10:26 > 0:10:27he was sentenced to a community order,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31and placed under the supervision of the probation service
0:10:31 > 0:10:33for 12 months of drug rehabilitation.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37He was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43One of the other men was also later identified by police.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46It turned out he had been caught for an unrelated crime.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53David and Sue have tightened their security since the burglary,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56and don't leave any money unattended on site.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58They also found over the following weeks
0:10:58 > 0:11:01some benefit from their bad experience.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05We don't advertise, everything we do here is through word of mouth,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08the break in actually just made us get busier.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10And not having smoked tobacco for four years,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Sue's well on her way to packing in e-cigarettes too.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18I hardly touch nicotine at all any more, and I can leave my
0:11:18 > 0:11:21e-cigarette alone, so I don't have to have it next to me 24/7.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34This man's just stolen some valuables from a car,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36including a dashboard camera,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39but he hadn't noticed there are CCTV cameras
0:11:39 > 0:11:41on this house, filming his every move.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Suddenly, he spots them and puts his hand over his face
0:11:45 > 0:11:47to try and hide his identity.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53He's panicking and makes an extraordinary decision,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55he probably thinks if he puts everything back,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57including the dashboard cam,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00the owner won't notice anything's been stolen,
0:12:00 > 0:12:05and won't look at the house CCTV, but he makes a big mistake.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08The dash cam is recording, and instead of saving face
0:12:08 > 0:12:11by putting it back, he's actually shown his face.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18The thief also puts back a bag he's stolen from the boot.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22But his attempts to cover his tracks are all in vain.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Later the car's owner sees his vehicle's been broken into,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27and puts this footage online.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33So the man now has the public and the police looking out for him.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Looks like he'll have to walk around with his hand over his face
0:12:36 > 0:12:38for a very long time.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47An armed robber enters a shop,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49he wants money and doesn't care if he hurts
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and terrifies the shop owner in the process.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56But the owner isn't easily frightened,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59because she's a taekwondo champion.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00But that's a sport,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02this is very much for real.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11This convenience store in Plymouth is run by Tinnie,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13originally from Sri Lanka,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Tinnie came to the UK when she was 19,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20looking to find safety after escaping a civil war.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Started as a student and studied childcare,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25then I've got married, then kids,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27you know, then settled here.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Tinnie and her husband Thambidurai
0:13:30 > 0:13:32have two sons and a daughter.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34The family shares a passion for martial arts.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Tinnie's children are black belts in taekwondo,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41and so is Tinnie - in fact, she's a champion.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43I love sparring, especially you know, our class,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46we didn't have that many females,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48so I always had to spar with men,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50they always helped me a lot, you know,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52quite a lot of the men coached me, helped me.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56It's really good, and including my boys, they helped me a lot as well.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Tinnie took up taekwondo when she was 35.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Her children's coach encouraged her
0:14:02 > 0:14:05to join his club and she was a natural.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Soon she started competing in tournaments, and in 2013
0:14:09 > 0:14:11she became a European champion.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14It's quite fun, quite fun.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I never, ever thought I can achieve European champion
0:14:17 > 0:14:19but, yeah, it's good.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Four years ago, Tinnie and her husband made a bold business move.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27They bought and fitted out a convenience store for Tinnie to run.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It hasn't been easy making it a success,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32but after a lot of hard work, she's slowly getting there.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Took more than six months to pick up this business, then I really enjoyed
0:14:38 > 0:14:42working here, our local customers support me so they know my name,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I know their names, so it's quite fun now.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Hi, how are you?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51But just when Tinnie thinks she can relax,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54she gets a shock when someone comes through the door
0:14:54 > 0:14:58who's not a customer, but a menacing armed robber.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It's a Monday evening and Tinnie is about to close the shop.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09She needs to refill her shelves for the next day,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12and goes to the storeroom at the back get some stock.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Then she hears the front door open.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20The shop security camera shows this man walking in.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I thought that was an ordinary customer,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25I just walked out and I said, "Hello",
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I didn't receive any response.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The man is wearing a hoodie and Tinnie can't see his face.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34I remember I asked him, "Can I help you?"
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Then he pulled the knife out.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38It's a terrifying moment.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42The robber points the sharp tip of a long knife at Tinnie,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44it's only a foot away from her body.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47It was scary, scary.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Tinnie's mind starts to race.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53First thing I thought, "There isn't a lot of money,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55"let him have that money",
0:15:55 > 0:15:58but then so even though it's a little bit of money,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00it still our hard-working money,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03I don't want to encourage him to do this thing.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05If I let him take it, he might come back again.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08But the robber is messing with the wrong woman.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12I thought, "I can use the taekwondo technique to do something".
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Tinnie attacks him,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16bravely lunging forward to grab the robber's wrist,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19of the same hand that's holding the knife.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22He said, "Let me go, let me go, I need the money, I need the money."
0:16:22 > 0:16:25I didn't let him go, I just hold it very tightly.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Tinnie starts pulling the man towards the door
0:16:28 > 0:16:32with all her might, and suddenly notices that she's bleeding.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I had a cut on my finger, it started to bleed, I panicked,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40I'm scared and everything, but at the same time I don't want to
0:16:40 > 0:16:44release my hand, then definitely he would do something.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Tinnie continues to wrestle with the robber who towers over her.
0:16:48 > 0:16:49She wants to push him out of the shop,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and they crash into the counter in the struggle.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Tinnie realises there is no-one else to help her,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57she must summon the strength to open the shop door
0:16:57 > 0:17:00while still holding his wrist.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Luckily it was open.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04She shoves him out of the shop.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Then I started to panic, he didn't take anything,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10he's going to come back.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13You know I wanted to shout "Help", I could not do it,
0:17:13 > 0:17:18my body was shaking a lot. You know, it's all the different feelings,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20cry, bleeding, and everything.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24To Tinnie's immense relief, the man drives off in a car.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Then I opened the door and shouted "Help!"
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Then my neighbours came within a minute or so.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35She came and she called the police and then police came.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Luckily, a few hours later
0:17:38 > 0:17:43the police catch the robber after he tries to hold up another store.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45The knifeman's crime spree is over.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50In court, the armed man was sentenced
0:17:50 > 0:17:52to five and a half years in prison
0:17:52 > 0:17:56for robbery, attempted robbery, and possession of bladed articles.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03In the weeks that followed,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06the shock of her ordeal affected Tinnie badly,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but her loved ones helped her get over it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14My family is supportive, and they thought this is a brave thing to do.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16They thought it's brilliant.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Tinnie's proud of the way she dealt with the robber,
0:18:19 > 0:18:24but she now realises tackling him might not have been the best move.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26It's just for the money, I shouldn't take this risk,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29that's the thing I feel totally different from that moment,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I wish I shouldn't do that.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34For young children, better to be here in this world.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37But nevertheless,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40any armed robbers would best steer clear of Tinnie,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42as would as TV cameramen.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- Sorry.- That's all right. - Nearly hit the camera.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It can be a natural instinct for a victim of crime
0:18:53 > 0:18:55to fight for what is rightfully theirs,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58but that might be a very bad idea.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01So are there any guidelines about how and when
0:19:01 > 0:19:02to stand up to criminals?
0:19:02 > 0:19:04To fight back is a big decision
0:19:04 > 0:19:07because potentially the individual may be stronger than you,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09be more prepared to fight. The important bit, though,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12if you feel you're in serious danger, you've got no other option,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and therefore you need to do it to help save your own life,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16or other peoples' lives, you can use force.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Make as much noise as you can, noise puts offenders off,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24noise attracts attention, noise can bring people to your rescue.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26The more space you've got between yourself
0:19:26 > 0:19:28and the offender, the better.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29Because then they can't lash out at you,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32they can't wave a weapon towards you.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Look for objects, look for shields,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38look for somewhere that you can hide and protect yourself.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41These people sometimes can be very violent, they can be armed,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45so it's more important that you get out of there unharmed,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48than actually trying to tackle the situation.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Your personal safety is paramount,
0:19:50 > 0:19:53so there's no shame in looking for an escape route
0:19:53 > 0:19:56if you're involved in a violent incident.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Caught Red Handed has seen dramatic evidence of the increasing problem
0:20:04 > 0:20:07of rubbish being illegally dumped all over Britain.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09It's a national disgrace,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12costing councils £50 million a year to clear up.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Money badly needed elsewhere.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20But one of the most brazen cases we've seen is this truck driver,
0:20:20 > 0:20:21who dumped several tonnes of rubbish
0:20:21 > 0:20:24in the entrance of a town's treasured public park.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28It makes one council officer so angry,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33he turns detective, and follows an intriguing paper trail of clues,
0:20:33 > 0:20:34with surprising results.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42In Slough city centre,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46the Grade II listed Herschel Park dates back to Victorian times.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49It had fallen into a state of neglect, until six years ago
0:20:49 > 0:20:52it was restored to its former glory with the help
0:20:52 > 0:20:54of council and lottery funding.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Ian is the park's manager.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01I think Herschel is one of the hidden gems of Slough,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05it's only about 400 metres away from the high street,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07but you can sit here and think you was in the country.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Ian can't maintain the park by himself,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13and is helped by a large team of volunteers.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17- That's cool.- I've planted over 200 trees in the park personally.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19We are creating a much better environment,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21not just for the animals and birds and wildlife,
0:21:21 > 0:21:22but for the residents as well.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28But something happens that gets in the way of people enjoying the park,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32when an unwelcomed visitor drops a heap of trouble on its doorstep.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's a spring evening coming up to 8:00pm.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Herschel Park doesn't have cameras monitoring its entrance,
0:21:42 > 0:21:47but a charity next door does have CCTV covering its gates.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52And this evening, the charity's camera picks up a white truck,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54approaching the entrance to Herschel Park,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56which is on the right behind the trees.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59But the park's entrance has a height barrier,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01which prevents it driving in.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04The driver backs up, we can see his truck's fully loaded.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07But instead of driving off,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10he reverses right up to the entrance of Herschel Park.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Then, moments later,
0:22:14 > 0:22:15the driver pulled away,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18with the truck's rear platform fully raised and empty.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Its entire contents have been dumped.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27These photos, taken by the park staff,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30show what a mess the driver left behind.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33A massive pile of builders' rubble and waste
0:22:33 > 0:22:36completely blocking the park entrance.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40We've never had anything that scale here before.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Two and a half, three cubic metres of stuff just blocked the whole
0:22:43 > 0:22:45doorway, no-one can get in, no-one can get out.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49It will be several days before the rubble can be cleared,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53and the number of people using the park immediately drops.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Just wreck everything, just because they're too lazy to go to a tip.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00And Slough council aren't happy either.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04It'll cost them and the taxpayer a lot of money to get the debris
0:23:04 > 0:23:05picked up and disposed of.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Council enforcement officer David Stride
0:23:09 > 0:23:11is brought in to investigate.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14He used to live overlooking Herschel Park,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16so for David this case is personal.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18It's such a lovely place,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and I used to take my daughter around there when I lived there,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23and walked around there, and there's this pile of waste,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26this rubbish that someone had just deliberately left,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28which is totally unacceptable.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30But his chances of tracking down
0:23:30 > 0:23:33this tip and run driver do not look promising.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Frustratingly, the CCTV provides few clues.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39You can see the registration number there,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42but you can see it's blurred, the quality isn't that good.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45You can see the logo here on the side of the vehicle,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47and there's a little light on the top.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49But how many vehicles like that in the country?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50Where do we go from here?
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Without a registration number, it's not clear at all.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55But David isn't giving up.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57He decides there's no option but to get his hands dirty.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02You need to have a look and see what evidence is there,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05before it's destroyed by the weather or the elements.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07David goes to the park and painstakingly
0:24:07 > 0:24:09sifts through all the waste.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Unfortunately, with building materials,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15there's nothing there to suggest where it's come from.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But then, as he reaches the bottom of the heap,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22David finds three black plastic bags full of domestic waste,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24and he makes a potentially important discovery.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29One of the bags contained, I couldn't believe it, a letter.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31The letter is from a phone company,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and is addressed to a man in Norfolk.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36And David find some other evidence, too.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40There's two till receipts at the bottom
0:24:40 > 0:24:42from the local supermarket, which
0:24:42 > 0:24:46indicated that the person there may have also visited that supermarket.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49This could've been the person where the roof tiles had come from.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52It's sort of excitement, you think, "Yes, I've got a lead."
0:24:52 > 0:24:55David rings the phone number of the man on the letter.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58He confirmed his name and it was the same name on the letter.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Just said, "No, I've never been to Slough."
0:25:01 > 0:25:03The man denies tipping the waste,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06but David thinks he's talking rubbish.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08If he's innocent and didn't dump it,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11then he should be able to provide the name
0:25:11 > 0:25:12of whoever took the waste off him.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14So I said to him, you know,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16"I need to speak to you further about this",
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and, "Would you be prepared to come in for an interview?"
0:25:19 > 0:25:22And he just basically said, "No, I live too far away."
0:25:22 > 0:25:25David's convinced this man is the culprit,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and sets out to find more proof.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31He searches the man's name online and finds a photo of him.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35And as search of his social media sites brings another breakthrough.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39The man has a picture of a truck he wants to sell.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42It's clear the man's spelling needs working on,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44and his sense of timing does too.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47He's trying to off-load a familiar-looking truck
0:25:47 > 0:25:51a few days after the fly-tipping incident.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53He's selling this vehicle which is identical
0:25:53 > 0:25:55to the one I've seen on the CCTV.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It's a white Ford Tipper and the light on top,
0:25:58 > 0:26:04and the logo on the side. I couldn't believe it, it was gold dust.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07The van might match but David still needs to prove
0:26:07 > 0:26:10the man was in Slough at the time of the offence.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12So armed with a supermarket till receipt
0:26:12 > 0:26:14he found in the dumped waste,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17he goes to that store to view their CCTV.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Went straight to the times and the dates on the two receipts,
0:26:20 > 0:26:22and looked at the footage.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Having seen the suspect's face on his social media pages,
0:26:25 > 0:26:30David knows who he's looking for and he doesn't have to wait long.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32That person there is the suspect.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37It's his build, it's his stance, hair colour, that's my man.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40This recording proves, without doubt, the man's a liar.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44He said to me he's not in Slough, he's never been so Slough.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47He's here, he's in Slough.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49And he's there on the day the waste was dumped.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53The evidence against his prime suspect is piling up,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55but David's determined to find even more proof
0:26:55 > 0:26:58the man's van was in Slough at the time of the offence.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01He contacts the police, and they confirm
0:27:01 > 0:27:03that there's a van registered to the man.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05They cross check the van's number plate
0:27:05 > 0:27:08with Slough's traffic camera footage.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09On the day in question,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13the van is captured in the area four times.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I've then thought, "This is it, the jigsaw is complete,"
0:27:15 > 0:27:20so it's a case of preparing a file and then going for the prosecution.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23The man is summoned to Slough Magistrates' Court,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26but he's obviously not keen on returning to the area,
0:27:26 > 0:27:27and doesn't turn up.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30There is such overwhelming evidence,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32they found him guilty in his absence.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38In court, the man was convicted of dumping waste,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40he was ordered to pay a fine,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42and costs totalling £3,000,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46and was also fined £50 for failing to appear.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54The message is clear, don't foul up Slough, and don't dice with David.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58He was complimented in court for the strength of his investigation.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01It made me happy and I thought, "Yes, I've got a result."
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Not just for me, it's my job, it's basically for the community.
0:28:04 > 0:28:05It's great for Slough.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Since the court case,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10there has been no more illegal dumping in Herschel Park.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12I was over the moon with that,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15that was great, so score one for the good guys.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22That's it for the today,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24and that's it for a few more criminals
0:28:24 > 0:28:26who've been caught red-handed.