Mahmood Crime Scene Rescue

In the UK there's a burglary every 45 seconds.

But right across the country

dedicated police teams are on the offensive

waging war against the criminals who steal from local homeowners.

Police! Open the door otherwise entry's going to have to be forced.

For the victims of these crimes it can take months, even years,

to come to terms with what's happened.

It's so easy for people to break in and steal property.

It's too easy and I think these people who do these crimes, they know that.

But in this series we're about to show them and you

how we can all beat the burglars.

This is Crime Scene Rescue.

Father of three, Mahmood, is a probation officer in West Yorkshire.

Day-in, day-out, Mahmood spends much of his time trying to get

offenders back on the straight and narrow.

But now he has become a victim of the criminals.

I talk to burglars, I talk to people in the criminal system.

I feel angry.

While the police hit the streets to solve this crime,

I'm desperate to make his house feel safe and secure again.

What can I say? Thank you, very much.

Last year, West Yorkshire Police

faced one of the highest burglary rates in the UK.

But it's a crime which the police in this region are working hard

to beat, and I'm joining them on the frontline to see

how they are tackling the problem.

While I'm here, I also want to do all I can

to help the local victims who have had their homes violated.

OPERATOR: 'This is West Yorkshire Police. What's the emergency?'

It's early in the morning and a burglary call has just come in.

'Are you actually inside the house?'

Probation officer, Mahmood, arrived home after working a night shift

only to discover the window at the back of his house had been smashed in.

PC Roger Copeland is first on the scene.

From what I can gather there's a TV missing and a bike.

Mahmood's iPod has also been stolen, along with his TV and bike.

-Did you say they'd used a stone?

-Yeah, they're on the floor.

It looks like they've smashed it with that.

Potentially there might be some sort of evidence

left on the glass like fibres, or skin, or blood that I can't see.

I'll request a Scenes of Crimes Officer who'll do the forensics,

the fingerprints and take footprints. Are you going to be in all day?

I was going to go to bed but obviously I won't be now.

What a nightmare for Mahmood.

After a long night's work,

he's now being denied the sleep he so desperately needs.

It's vital every piece of evidence is gathered

and West Yorkshire's forensic team is quick to arrive and comb the scene.

Meanwhile, there's already been a breakthrough in the investigation.

A nearby neighbour may have been a witness to the burglary.

I just happened to glance over at the other side of the street

and I saw this lad, a young lad probably about early to mid-20s,

coming out of the front door with a bicycle.

But he didn't act like he was suspicious from it,

so I thought maybe he's one of your mates and he's popped round or something,

and then he just rode off on his bike.

He was casually coming out as if he was just leaving the house,

just...just casually.

Unfortunately, criminals often get away with burglaries

because they act with confidence.

For the moment the police have done all they can.

The Scenes of Crime have attended and got some footprints off the floor inside,

a witness nearby who saw somebody leaving with a bike.

Based on the description he's given us, hopefully the witness can

view some photographs at some point and he may pick somebody out

so it's quite a good possible line of enquiry for us to follow up.

It's a positive start to the police investigation

but I'm sickened that criminals could do something like this

to a caring probation officer.

The break in has come as a huge shock to Mahmood,

who is clearly shaken.

Right now, I'm angry that somebody's actually been in here.

I'm also thinking that maybe they may come back,

so there's an element of being frightened as well.

I just recently purchased this house.

I'm just starting to make some home improvements.

I should have got an alarm fitted...

And done some more, some locks on the windows.

It's too late now.

I feel really sorry for him, and I'm determined to do everything I can

to make sure he feels safe in his own home again.

My top priority right now is to secure the smashed window

so I've arranged for John the glazier to come straight round to work his magic.

With the house secured,

at least Mahmood might be able to get that much needed sleep.

It's a new day and I've returned to see Mahmood with a plan of action.

His children, who live with their mum, have also come to visit.

Thank goodness they weren't here when the burglary happened.

There'll be plenty more visits though, so it's still a real worry.

So, Mahmood, the first thing I've got to ask is,

how have you been since the burglary?

Erm...I've been suspicious towards people.

If I see a car outside I'm thinking, is it them?

I suppose I'm feeling a little bit paranoid about people.

I've been occupied with the kids and that's taking things off my mind.

When they go back I suppose I'll have more time to think about it.

Now obviously you are a father,

you've got your three kids who have come up today to see you.

They were not here at the time of the offence though.

I think it would have been a lot worse if they'd have been here.

I wouldn't like to think about it.

I'm just glad that they wasn't here.

Sammy, you and your sisters were home when you heard what happened

to your dad's house. What was that like when you heard the news?

When I first heard it I didn't believe it

because he's always saying that we watch TV too much,

so I thought he might have hidden it somewhere.

You came and your telly was gone. When you came to visit your dad, the telly was gone.

You've had some lovely neighbours that have offered to help you out, especially with the television.

Well, yeah, friends. I've got the TV there now, that's come from a friend.

"Well, your children are coming over, you haven't got a TV to watch."

Friends and neighbours, they are really helpful.

That's got to be quite nice to know that neighbours are offering help like that

and to know that they'd be looking out for each other.

It is. I mean round here the neighbours are good. We all look out for each other.

-We are on friendly terms and that's how I think it should be.

-Absolutely.

-Security wise, do you think you did as much as you possible could on the house?

-I didn't do enough.

Now my priorities have to change.

If you want us to, we'd like to help you and to fix this place up

and make it as safe and secure as we possibly can

for you and your family.

Hopefully we'd eliminate the chance of this ever happening again.

I'd appreciate that.

Well, it sounds like Mahmood's got some really nice neighbours,

which is great, but what he needs now is some tradesmen and women

to come round here and fix this place up.

I need to get on the phone and make that happen.

Mahmood is clearly distressed at what's happened

and it's terrible he no longer feels comfortable in his own home.

I want to fix that by overhauling his security

and transforming his lounge in a bid to remove the sour memories.

But I can't do this all on my own, it's time to rally the troops.

Hi Judith, it's Rav. Hi Ian, it's Rav.

Hi Neil, it's Rav.

I'm after a bit of a favour from you, I really need some help

and I think you might be the man to do it for me.

There's a fella that I've met called Mahmood that's just been burgled.

Do you reckon you could have a look at the room and see if there's anything you can do for us?

Neil, that sounds absolutely brilliant. I'll see you there and see what we can do for him.

You star. Thanks Ian, thanks for your help.

While my gang of community spirited trades people

prepare for action, the police have been attempting

to track down the burglars who stole Mahmood's TV, bike and iPod.

The forensics team have made an imprint of the footwear mark

found at Mahmood's home.

This has been uploaded to a police-wide database.

Hopefully this will provide a match to another crime

and a suspect can be targeted.

Meanwhile, the police are also busy questioning local known criminals

fitting the description given by an eyewitness.

Back at the house, it's time to crack on with the security upgrade.

First things first, I need some expert security advice

and crime prevention specialist Dave Harrison is the man to provide it.

The first impression is that it does need, you know, a security review.

We've overgrown vegetation at both sides of the door.

That affords a hiding place, you know,

for the offenders to the front window.

Get that trimmed down, a simple solution.

What I do like to see, is this hedge has already been trimmed.

-Yes. It's very good, yes.

-Yeah.

The front of Mahmood's home is fairly secure

although there are still things we can do to make it safer.

However, the back of this house remains a concern.

The first thing that strikes me about this is, I'd imagine

it's very dark at night-time because there's no lighting here whatsoever

and I'd imagine that is something you'd really like to see changed.

Yeah, sure. Some lighting put underneath the eaves of the house

so that the offender can't get to the lighting system is very important.

-What about an alarm?

-There's no alarm on this property.

-Do you think we should be thinking about that?

-Absolutely.

The offenders have actually come round here and obviously felt at ease,

so we have to change that.

I think by having an alarm system to start off with

so the offender will see the house is protected

-and they've taken security seriously.

-OK, Dave.

Well, certainly loads for us to be getting on with.

I think those small changes are going to make a big difference to Mahmood and his family living here.

The first tradespeople from my team of volunteers have arrived.

Electrician Ian is straight to work fitting motion sensor lights

to the exterior of the property.

And the secret is to fit these lights high up

so the criminals can't reach them.

Back at ground level,

locksmith Jason is changing the lock on the front door.

What these do, they actually stop the burglars getting

to the vulnerable part of the door,

so, effectively, they can't get in and burgle people's houses.

Done!

When probation officer Mahmood comes home after a hard shift at work,

he likes to unwind and spend quality time with his children in his lounge.

But now his living room has been tarnished

after the burglars smashed their way in.

Where the window was smashed I tend to draw the curtain so I don't have to see it,

and try and get it as normal-looking as possible.

I try and, like, erase it out of my mind.

That's my way of dealing with it.

It's essential for me to help Mahmood feel at ease

in his own home again, so I've enlisted designer Judith Harrop

to help find a way to remove all the bad associations.

So, Judith, you've had a look around the room,

you know this is a family room where they all like to spend time together,

and you also know this is where the burglary actually took place.

What do you think you can do for Mahmood and the family

to change this and, hopefully, take some of those memories away?

Well, we're going to add to what he has here already.

I think some new cushions on the sofa will be really good.

I think we're going to change the curtains, put some new prints on the wall

and some new accessories, maybe, bring it more up to date.

And we've got to remember this isn't just about Mahmood,

he has family that comes and stays with him

so we want to make it really comfortable for the children too.

OK, Judith, that sounds good. Now, can you get it all done

-in the short space of time we've given you?

-Rav, we have to!

That's the only answer I would have accepted.

The changes here could go a long way to getting our probation officer

back on track.

He works so tirelessly trying to help people but I know that

being burgled has really knocked his faith in human nature.

I suppose at the moment I feel like that

I personally am knocking my head against a wall.

I talk to burglars, I talk to people with, you know,

in the criminal system.

I don't...

I feel like I'm...

I feel angry.

I'm doing everything I can to help Mahmood and the police are too.

They're out in force on the streets of his neighbourhood.

We all know why we're here.

We have had a burglary, we do have a suspect description

by one of the neighbours, we are looking for any further witnesses

that may have seen someone around that time.

You've all got your own addresses that you need to go and visit,

just get as much information as you can.

Local residents have arrived home from work now

so it's a perfect time for the police to catch them in.

The officers are talking to residents to see if they have

any information relating to Mahmood's burglary,

and they're also advising them on their own home security

so they won't become victims themselves.

Because something has happened in the area,

we're offering a free security assessment to everyone in the area.

I could have a quick look round, see if I could suggest something

that you're looking at to improve your security.

-Would you be interested in me doing that for you now?

-Yes. Yes.

It's always wise to remain vigilant

but hopefully the increased police presence

around the neighbourhood, will help deter any would-be burglars.

It's a cold morning and Mahmood is preparing to leave his home

so my team of tradespeople can take it over for the final part of the transformation.

But the poor chap is still feeling really raw.

It's been a difficult time at the moment,

considering what's happened and I just hope that, you know,

something good will come out of this

and that I can get over the psychological element really, that's the main thing for me.

I just hope that, you know, looking forward,

that I actually feel a lot safer in the house.

I'm determined to give him back his peace of mind

and put the heart back into his home.

The second wave of my volunteers are arriving

and they've got one thing on their mind and that's to help.

OK, everyone, thank you for coming round so quickly.

The house behind me here is Mahmood's, or Moody to his friends,

who, like you, is a hard working fellow.

Whilst he was out at work, unfortunately, he was burgled.

Now, as you can imagine it has really upset him

especially when he comes home and sits in the living area

where he knows the intruders had come in and stolen his stuff.

So, with your help I want to change that.

I want to fix the place up, I want to make it much safer

and much more secure than it currently is.

So, together I think we can do this.

He's a deserving fellow, he needs your help

but what we don't have is a lot of time to do it.

So let's get in there, and let's get this place fixed up.

-Ready?

-ALL: Yeah!

We need to get straight on

and first order of business is to sort out that smashed window.

It's not just the broken glass that's coming out,

Mahmood's fireplace is too.

I'm actually making this fireplace look worse before it gets better.

We're going for a chunkier, Moroccan kind of feel.

We're going to paint it. Priming it at the moment

and then we're going to paint it and distress it,

and change the whole nature of it.

My trusted locksmith, Jason, has been investigating all of the windows.

And in the bathroom, he's found something that troubles him.

Outside, if I just open the window,

there is a flat roof and the flat roof could be classed as an access point.

So, what could happen with just a push button,

if the burglar smashes the glass or anything like that,

they can just basically reach in and open the window, like so.

What I'm doing effectively is changing the handle on the window

from a push button handle to a locking handle.

With it being key operated, a burglar can't just break the glass

and open the window, they physically need a key.

Meanwhile, downstairs, I'm glad to see that the new window is going in.

We've used toughened glass and it's a definite improvement.

Stuart, the window looks fantastic. You've put this in now and it's made a difference.

You had a bit of work to do though because whoever broke in

actually broke this as well, didn't they?

-Yeah, just standing on it.

-But that's been replaced as well.

All been replaced, yeah, and put back.

Now the one thing that we also wanted to get done on this window

was locks as well, proper window locks.

So, now that you've managed to get the pane in

they can finally get on with that as well.

We can actually see it going on in the background.

Jason's doing that so that will make this window

-much safer than it was previously.

-Oh, yes.

The local tradespeople are getting stuck in but they're not alone.

Two of Mahmood's neighbours, Richard and Denis,

have come along to help as they know how hard he's been hit by the burglary.

Transforming the room by doing all this,

-do you think it's going to be a good thing?

-I think so, yeah.

I think it's definitely going to be a good thing for him, yeah.

It were a constant reminder in seeing his living room, you know,

how it was and obviously with his window as well,

it were a constant reminder and he can sort of put it to bed now a bit.

So, we've got 24 hours to turn this place around.

I think we've got to get our skates on, haven't we?

-All right. I'll let you get back to work. Denis, you've missed a bit.

-Have I?

The living room is really coming on, as is the security upgrade.

A new alarm has been installed

and new locks have been fitted on Mahmood's windows.

But I'm wondering how things are going back in the lounge.

Now, Judith, you won't mind me saying I have just taken a look

in his living room and it's slightly different to what I remember.

There's no furniture there because it's all behind you.

It is. The furniture's all in the garden at the moment.

-And lots of work still to be done.

-Lots still.

-At least before he returns.

-Yeah.

We've got dining chairs to re-cover, we've got cushions to make,

we've got fireplaces to finish painting.

The guys inside have got the decorating to do.

-There's quite a lot to do yet.

-But you're confident?

-I am, yes.

-Good.

Well, it's good to see that Judith is hard at work

and the police have been on the case with their investigation too.

They've made progress on identifying potential suspects,

following a tip-off.

We've received some community intelligence in relation

to one particular suspect.

His solicitor's been in contact with ourselves

and he's going to be attending voluntarily at the police station,

hopefully, this afternoon, where he will then be arrested.

He'll be interviewed in relation to Mahmood's burglary.

It's great news that the police have a lead on someone

and that their commitment is paying off.

It's the final day and as Leeds commuters fight their way through

the morning rush hour, my team of local heroes

prepare for one last challenge at Mahmood's house.

Our locksmith is continuing his crusade to update the security

by making sure Mahmood's side entrance,

which he uses as his main door, is secure.

And ideally, this should have a minimum of two locks.

Back in the lounge, the painting has been finished

so it's time for the carpet to go down.

Meanwhile outside, I'm looking at a high-tech bit of kit

which adds more security to this home.

To me, these look like a sort of basic PIR sensor, a Passive Infrared one.

You're quite right, it's just a normal PIR

that sits externally around a property,

but what they're actually controlling is a plug socket

that can be plugged into any socket inside the house.

They can control any electrical appliance like a light,

a radio, or a television.

So, if anybody goes past this it breaks the beam on a PIR,

it will activate the light and switch lights on inside the house.

Such a clever idea. He's going to be much safer after all this.

Yes, he will be.

Well, Mahmood will be home soon, and time is running out.

Luckily, the furniture is back and the blinds are going up.

It's nearly there now, it looks amazing. What's still to go?

We've got some pictures to hang, and it's just basic dressing

-and a light fitting to go up.

-Nearly there. It's not been easy.

Oh! I'm so pleased with this.

Now, that's his original fitting but you've painted that yourself.

-Well I've had some help!

-It's been a big team effort, hasn't it?

-It has been a huge team effort, yes.

-Yeah. Everyone pulling together.

Even the fireplace has been put in, partly by our security expert!

-So everyone's helping out. Cheers, Jason.

-You're welcome.

All right then, Judith, I know you've got loads to get on with.

-I really need to get on.

-Yes. Yeah, we need to get on.

Mahmood is due back, I'm afraid, in not too long away at all so...

-How long have we got?

-I'm not going to tell you because I don't want you to cry.

-You get on with it Judith, you finish off.

-OK.

I'm sure he's going to love his room when he comes back.

While Judith adds the finishing touches on the lounge,

crime prevention expert Dave Harrison has returned

to review the mammoth security upgrade we've done on Mahmood's house.

Sensor motion lights have been installed outside.

A top of the range alarm system has been added.

The locks have been checked out and updated.

We've trimmed the bushes in the front garden

so any would-be burglars can't hide behind them.

The smashed window in the lounge has been replaced.

And we've even painted Mahmood's drainpipes with anti-climb paint.

But what does Dave think?

So after your initial assessment,

-would you say this is an improvement on it?

-Absolutely.

With all the additional security to the windows, to the doors,

the lighting, a massive improvement.

-Good.

-Really happy about it.

-Well. you're happy...

-I am.

-I hope Mahmood's happy when he comes home.

-I'm sure he will be.

-I'm sure too. Thanks, Dave.

'Well, Mahmood is here so we're about to find out.'

-Welcome back.

-Thank you.

-Right, are you ready to see what we've done to your house?

-Yes, I am.

Well, it's a lot safer than it was when you left.

-Straight away you can see the new lighting that we've put in.

-Yeah.

That's going to stop anyone coming in and lurking around,

hiding behind your bushes up to no good.

Your bushes were overgrown and that might not sound like a security issue, but it was.

And if you look up there,

you can see you've got a brand new alarm system.

I'm sure you noticed that when you first came in.

When you look at the front of the house it's quite obvious now.

-It is, yes.

-You can see that big box. So that's the front of your house.

-Let me go round to the back because I want to show you a few more things that we've done. OK?

-Yeah.

Obviously the first thing you've probably noticed round the back

is the fact that we've fixed that broken window.

Also, all your windows down here, all those big ones,

have now been fitted with really good strong window locks

so no-one can lever open those windows and climb through.

So that's a good thing.

We've even put them on the top, on top of your flat roof.

So, no-one can get in those windows.

A little climbing aid you previously had which is not your fault,

it's just the fact that you've had these big drainpipes.

They've been painted now with a special type of paint, anti-climb paint,

so no-one's going to be able to wriggle up there, they're just going to slip off.

And also, you've probably seen it,

you've got a new light high up on the back of your wall,

so I'm sure that's peace of mind for you as well.

-Definitely.

-Yeah? Some good changes there?

-Yes. Yeah.

-Good.

So Mahmood, that's the outside of your property,

that's all been done there but there's a little extra.

Because as well as making you safe and secure

we also wanted to let you have your home back.

So, we've done a little something inside your living room.

-Would you like to have a look at that?

-I certainly would.

A bit nervous?

Time to see if Mahmood is as happy

with the transformation of his lounge.

Since the burglary, his living room had made him depressed.

Instead of relaxing on his sofa, he's been solemnly staring

at the smashed window where the burglars broke in.

We wanted to lift his mood and create a lounge where Mahmood

can feel comfortable and spend quality time with his children.

Come with me.

We've done a little extra on the inside for you.

Yes! What can I say?

-What do you think?

-I think it's lovely, I really do. Yes.

-Looks a bit different. doesn't it?

-It certainly does.

Do you think your three kids will like it?

I think they will. No, it's lovely, it really is.

-Good.

-I'm, er...

-Well, that's the main thing.

-I'm loving it, loving it.

-We like that.

You used to sit there on that sofa and you even said

that you'd have the curtains closed so you couldn't see that window

and the fact that they'd broken it, to try and block it out.

-That's right, yes.

-What will you be doing now?

Well, I'll be living in my own home.

Walking in here earlier on and seeing this is just,

it's cheered me up anyway.

What can I say? Thank you very much. It is... Yes, definitely.

It's cheered you up and helped take away the memory of what happened

-when you came home and saw...?

-Yeah, definitely.

Well, there's a lot of people that heard what happened to you

and they just said they wanted to help.

They're all local tradesmen and women that rushed round

and made this possible on the outside and in.

I know that they would like to say hello to you in person

-and I'm sure you'd like to say thank you to them yourself.

-Yes. I would.

They're actually gathering right now in your back garden.

If you follow me.

-Come with me, and come and meet them.

-Right.

Come with me.

I told you there was a lot of people that made that possible

and here are just some of them.

There's a few people who wanted to say hello to you in person.

-You recognise a couple of them.

-I do, yes.

Some of your painters here. We've got Denis and Richard.

Have you been doing some painting, Denis?

-Meet a few of them, the ones you don't know.

-You've done a smashing job in there

and I really do like it. Yeah, cheers, Denis.

There we go. He is really happy with that.

I guess that's just the result of a lot of hard work,

goodwill and an awful lot of community spirit.

I'm sure Mahmood's children will also be delighted

with their new living room on their next visit.

The suspect who attended the police station regarding the crime

denied the offence.

After he couldn't be positively identified in a computer line-up,

he was released without charge.

However, the police are still working to solve the case

and to stamp out future burglaries in West Yorkshire.

It's absolutely wonderful that the local community have come together

and worked so hard to put something back into Mahmood's home,

and actually give him that sense of wellbeing again.

I'm really pleased with the local community today.

What we'll do from here on is make sure that we

go on the proactive approach now and make sure that we have

plenty of high visibility in the area and make sure that our

local police officers are visible, speaking to the local community

with a view to reducing and preventing any further burglaries in this area.

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