0:00:02 > 0:00:04Burglaries are on the increase.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09It's a real trauma for all of us.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Usually only certain people moving around in their vehicles at night -
0:00:12 > 0:00:16that's taxi drivers, emergency services and villains.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21Thieves not just targeting the expensive gadgets in our homes...
0:00:21 > 0:00:24they're taking our cherished heirlooms too.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Your home is your sanctuary, and nobody should be in your home.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Items impossible to replace.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34Why go into someone's house and take away things that are most important -
0:00:34 > 0:00:36their security and safety?
0:00:36 > 0:00:38It's hard to take.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40I don't think they've got any scruples.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44But these prized possessions are often recovered.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Guilty!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The police are on our side.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Come and open the door or we're going to put it through.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Police with a warrant, open the door!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Specialist anti-burglary units across the UK...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Come out now or make yourself known!
0:00:59 > 0:01:01..working with the latest technology...
0:01:01 > 0:01:05If your prints are at a crime scene, we're going to come and talk to you about it and ask why.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07..and the good citizens among us.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11I did say I'd stop and just make sure the whole family was all right.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13To track down the burglars...
0:01:14 > 0:01:17..and get us back our stolen goods.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19They took so much trouble,
0:01:19 > 0:01:25especially when he suddenly said, "Joyce, got the ring! Coming round with it." It was fantastic.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29It was really lucky, so it's nice to get them back.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30This is Robbed...
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Raided...
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Reunited.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34Thank you so much.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36I feel very good, yeah.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38So rewarding, such a happy day.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Coming up on today's programme...
0:01:51 > 0:01:54How one man's computer know-how gives police a vital clue
0:01:54 > 0:01:56to help track down his stolen laptop.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58I was absolutely gobsmacked.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02I couldn't believe it, that it showed the location of it right there.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04SIRENS BLARE
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Police in Essex go after the opportunistic thief
0:02:08 > 0:02:10who ransacked a couple's home while they slept.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12It was a little bit more distressing, really.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16We thought they were just in the conservatory,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18now that we know they actually got into here,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22it's slightly more upsetting if you like, you know?
0:02:22 > 0:02:27And a dramatic early morning raid catches a suspected burglar off-guard.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Open the door, it's the police.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Do it straightaway, please, or the door goes in!
0:02:34 > 0:02:39- THEY LAUGH - Avid computer-gamer James Stark has lived in the same house
0:02:39 > 0:02:41for most of his life.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45We moved in here, and I was six months old, with my mum,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47and we've been here ever since, really.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52James is a computer buff, with a taste for hi-tech gadgets.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56I'm quite a big techie person. I've got a lot of games consoles and computers.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I work away at sea, and then when I come home,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I've got a lot of time not doing very much.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05In December 2011, five days before Christmas,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07James and his girlfriend went out for the evening,
0:03:07 > 0:03:12leaving her three-year-old daughter under the caring eye of James' mother.
0:03:13 > 0:03:19Later, with James and his girlfriend not yet home and the rest of the family asleep upstairs,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22they received some very unwelcome visitors.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Approaching from an alley at the back of the house,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31intruders came through the back gate into the garden.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36And then, what they did was, they've come down to the gate here,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40and this gate up here had a little padlock on it.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44They managed to pick the lock and actually unbolt the gate,
0:03:44 > 0:03:49come through there and then they've shoulder-barged the door like that.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01Inside, the burglars found an elaborate range of expensive, hi-tech gadgets.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06They came in here, had a little look round, and then came up the stairs.
0:04:10 > 0:04:17This door would've been open, and we had a three-year-old that was asleep in the bed.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21So they would have probably seen her asleep, maybe panicked a little bit,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and also, I had my mother in the bed sleeping. Probably heard her as well.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29So I think they've run down the stairs, grabbed what they can,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31and then run out the back door.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35The burglars seem to have lost their nerve and fled the scene.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Neither James' mother nor the toddler woke up during the break-in.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44A short time later, the couple got home and went into the lounge.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I sat down and I thought, "Wait a minute, it's a bit cold."
0:04:47 > 0:04:50So I went into the kitchen, realised the back door was open.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54It wasn't until I came back in that I just happened to look down and realised the laptop had gone.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Then when I looked on the sofa, realised the iPad had gone as well...
0:04:58 > 0:04:59It wasn't there.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03In their rushed exit, the burglars had grabbed a laptop,
0:05:03 > 0:05:08an expensive tablet computer, and several console games.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Thought, you know, that's it, we'd been burgled.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18For James, it wasn't the loss of his gadgets that was his first concern.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20It was the safety of his loved ones who had been exposed
0:05:20 > 0:05:23to a potentially very frightening situation.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Someone had been in the house while my mother and my girlfriend's daughter were sleeping.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31That was what was really unnerving.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34As for the missing items,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36James didn't hold much hope of seeing them again.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40I thought there was absolutely no way that we were going to get any of the stuff back at all.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Most upsettingly, James had used the laptop and tablet computer
0:05:45 > 0:05:49to store a large amount of irreplaceable family pictures.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52All my photos were on there that I had not had chance to back up,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55so I'd lost most of those.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59James called 999 and reported the break-in.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Grimsby police officers arrived soon after
0:06:02 > 0:06:05and immediately began their investigation.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07This is the worst kind of crime.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Somebody has actually been into your house... There's nothing worse.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13DCI Gerry Darling knew the window of opportunity
0:06:13 > 0:06:17to recover these top-of-the-range gadgets was likely to be small.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20The main things that are stolen are stuff that can be sold on quickly,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22such as PlayStations, Xboxes, games to go with it,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25laptops, and the tablets.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29With the police still at the house, James set about protecting himself
0:06:29 > 0:06:33against identity fraud using his spare computer.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37As well as family photos, his stolen computer also contained
0:06:37 > 0:06:41a wealth of personal information that criminals could exploit.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45My first reaction was to change all my passwords that were saved on the laptop.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49It was then he made an incredible discovery.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54I realised that there was a feature that was on the tablet that could
0:06:54 > 0:06:58track it to show you where the location of it was.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Under the watchful gaze of the police, all James had to do
0:07:03 > 0:07:06was log on to the tracking website for his missing tablet.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09I went onto the site, and as I clicked on the tracker,
0:07:09 > 0:07:15it was amazing when I actually realised that the thing was showing it in a street in Grimsby.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Amazingly, this state-of-the-art tracking technology
0:07:18 > 0:07:22showed James' tablet computer was less than 5 miles away.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23I was absolutely gobsmacked.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27I couldn't believe it, that it showed the location of it right there.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29The copper that was round at the time, he said,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32no, he'd never seen anything like that before.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35He was very shocked at it. He couldn't believe it.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41But agonisingly, as James and the police officer continued to track the tablet,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- its signal disappeared.- The iPad stopped transmitting its location.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47I thought, "It's back on the move again."
0:07:47 > 0:07:52They'd probably stopped somewhere just to see someone or something and then they'd taken it away again.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57After I'd lost the signal that time, then I thought, "No, we're not going to get it back."
0:07:57 > 0:08:01After an incredible breakthrough, it appeared the precious tablet
0:08:01 > 0:08:05had once again cruelly vanished without a trace.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08But the police were determined to make the most of this lead.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14So we looked at our criminal intelligence which indicated that there was a strong possibility
0:08:14 > 0:08:17a known handler of stolen goods lived in that street.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- SIRENS BLARE - The police knew they had to move quickly.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23The very same morning the crime was reported,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27officers swooped on the house where the signal was coming from.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I got a call from a police officer during the raid itself to say that
0:08:30 > 0:08:35he'd found the iPad and also a couple of computer games as well.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Although there was no sign of the laptop,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42James was absolutely thrilled to get his tablet computer back,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45which he'd thought was gone forever.
0:08:45 > 0:08:51His technical know-how and quick-thinking had led the police straight to the unwitting suspect.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Knowing that the tracker was there, I don't think he was aware of it.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Athough he was quite clever with it, he wasn't clever enough. Definitely be kicking himself.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03While many hi-tech computer gadgets have built-in tracking features,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06DCI Darling recommends another more old-fashioned technique
0:09:06 > 0:09:11to help police reunite stolen items with their rightful folders.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15They can mark it with UV pens, put their address on or the postcode,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19and when we're searching people's houses or we're searching second-hand shops, we can check.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22And if we find stolen property, we'll act on it straightaway,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and, hopefully, detect more crimes and lock up more burglars.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29It was a great result for both James and Grimsby Police.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32You can't beat the feeling of recovering stolen property,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36and when it was there and all this technology stuff had worked out,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38it was new to a lot of us, but the officers on the scene
0:09:38 > 0:09:42were absolutely elated to have recovered it and done a good job.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Still to come, it's a race against time in Northampton
0:09:49 > 0:09:53as a special police team go to arrest a man wanted for burglary.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58But first, in Essex, it's mid-morning
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and PC Paul Wigington of Southend-on-Sea's robbery squad
0:10:01 > 0:10:05is responding to a call about a break-in to a house.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09The owners, Gary and June Howard,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12called the police after making the shocking discovery
0:10:12 > 0:10:16that they'd been burgled while they were asleep upstairs.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23But I just thought you should probably know there's some tea leaf about the area, wandering about.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26No, it's good, cos if they don't get reported to us,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29we don't know there is a problem in the area, so it's best to report it.
0:10:29 > 0:10:35I came in and I was plumping up my cushions for somebody coming round,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38and I turned round, the door was open anyway,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41but I thought my husband opened it to let the cats out.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And then when I turned round, I thought, "Where's the TV gone?"
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- And it's gone. - This obviously happened overnight?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Nobody used this room last night, though. Oh, you used it last night?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54I was watching the football last night in here.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55And I went to bed at two o'clock.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- Has nothing else been taken from the house?- Doesn't appear to be, no.- No.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- I think we've touched that door... - Right.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Having established that it's only the TV that's missing,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10PC Wigington has to find out how the thief got in.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16But first, he checks out the garden shed to see if anything else might've been taken.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- My husband said that was on the floor, so he's picked that up.- Right.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Was this open, this door, this morning?- I don't know.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25We'll ask him when we go back in, that's fine.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27I just looked through and there's...
0:11:27 > 0:11:33- They often go and break into the shed to get a tool to open the door. - Oh, right.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36So they'll come in here and get a screwdriver or hammer or something
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and use that to break into your house.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Problem is, if they carry it with them when we stop in the street, they'll get arrested,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- whereas, if they just steal it here...- Right, OK.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51- ..they obviously won't get arrested until after...- Right, OK.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57The mystery deepens, as no tools have been taken to make a forced entry.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03In the UK, one in five break-ins is a result of either doors or windows being left unlocked,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06and it's beginning to look like this is what happened here.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12I'm quite shocked, but I just feel... I just feel a bit stupid.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Although the conservatory door was left unlocked,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20so the burglars didn't even have to break in,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22a scene of crime officer, known as a SOCO,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26will still examine the conservatory for fingerprints or other clues.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29I'll have a look at your door, then have a look on your table area.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Yeah, I think that's as far as they've got, really.- OK.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Perhaps you've disturbed them or something's happened?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- I think they've probably heard us, cos...- Yeah, maybe.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43A recent survey by Victim Support found that 61% of break-ins happened
0:12:43 > 0:12:46when the victims were at home.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50For all these people, it's a traumatic event.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I just feel really daft because I made it so easy for them.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00And I feel a little bit anxious that, you know, somebody might come back.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03That was very easy. If the door hadn't been open,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06maybe they would have used something to come in.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08I feel a bit pig-sick, really.
0:13:11 > 0:13:18The SOCO is focusing efforts to find fingerprints on the table that the TV was on, and the unlocked door.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22A lot of smudge marks and then a bit of detail there.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Looks like a bit of palm mark more than anything, which,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27you never know, because if they pulled it to cos it's cold
0:13:27 > 0:13:30and then just pushed it open, it's possible, isn't it?
0:13:34 > 0:13:39I reckon they've been disturbed. Very opportunist, isn't it?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41The chances of leaving your door open and it happening, it's...
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Unless, perhaps, it gets left open quite a bit, maybe.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Can you see those there? They're quite nice, aren't they?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49If you can see good detail in them, and if you can see ridge detail,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52then you sort of, from experience, get to know what you're likely
0:13:52 > 0:13:54to get results from and what you're not.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56If you're at all unsure, then you take it,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00but any ridge detail, really, I'm lifting. Especially for burglaries.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03When a fingerprint expert looks at that, he'll look at those
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and look at all the details in the ridges.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09And, depending on how many details he or she can see,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13will determine whether he can identify that to an offender.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16While the SOCO is still searching for evidence,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19PC Wigington is explaining to Gary and June
0:14:19 > 0:14:22about a marking system for their possessions.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I'll show you what it is and then I'll explain what it does.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Basically, it's a glue.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31That has a code inside it, like DNA, which is registered to your address.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32Oh, OK.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37All you have to do is dab a bit of this glue on whatever you want.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41If any of that ever goes missing, we can get the code off of it,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- and that'll bring us back to your address.- Oh, right.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45So that's already coded for our address?
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- I'll just fell in these forms and that gets sent away and it all gets linked up with you.- Oh, OK.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53It's simple stuff to use but it is extremely good stuff.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56For Gary and June, this break-in has been a wake-up call
0:14:56 > 0:14:59about taking care to secure their home.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02We have to remember to keep that back door locked.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06I just have to make it as like a regular routine to check both doors every night.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13The scene of crime officer is taking June and Gary's fingerprints to eliminate them from the crime scene.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- OFFICER:- That's it.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21PC Wigington is doing door-to-door enquiries with the neighbours.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Hiya, there, nothing to worry about. One of your neighbours,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28someone just broke into their conservatory last night.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Just wondered if you saw anyone suspicious hanging about?
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Unfortunately, none of the neighbours has seen anything.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35That's all right, see you later.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39So for PC Wigington, there's possibly only one explanation.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42This one appears to be an opportunist one, really.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45For some reason, all they've taken is a television.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I don't know if they saw the burglar alarm or the sensors
0:15:48 > 0:15:51but they've taken the television and just gone with that.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Once back at Southend police station,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01PC Wigington and his team set about their investigations.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05But the case has taken a surprising turn.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09June and Gary Howard have contacted the police to say they've discovered
0:16:09 > 0:16:12that apart from the TV, they've had a laptop, iPod,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15and two mobile phones taken as well.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Checking with the owner, Gary, and the mobile phone company,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24they found that the phone had been used by the thief.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Obviously, someone that stole it had sent a text message from it.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30We ran that number through our computer database
0:16:30 > 0:16:32and we know who it belongs to,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35someone who's known for handling stolen goods in the Southend area.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Armed with this important knowledge,
0:16:38 > 0:16:43Southend Police took out a search warrant on the man's address and entered his house.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Unfortunately, the person we were looking for wasn't at the address,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50but we did manage to recover some stolen goods from another burglary
0:16:50 > 0:16:53which we're in the process of investigating.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Although other goods were found from other robberies, for June and Gary,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00none of their stolen items were found at the address.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Later that day, PC Paul Wigington goes to see Gary and June...
0:17:08 > 0:17:09Hello, again.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13..to break the bad news that their stolen goods have not been found.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17I understand you noticed, was it two phones and a laptop?
0:17:17 > 0:17:22- Right, two phones, a laptop and... iPod.- Oh, iPod.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26My Kindle was there, that Gary bought me for Christmas,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30but they didn't take it, fortunately. But they obviously can't read!
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Probably didn't realise what it was. It's a bit more distressing, really.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36We thought they were just in the conservatory.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Now that we know they actually got into here,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42it's slightly more upsetting, if you like, you know?
0:17:42 > 0:17:47I'm fighting secondary breast cancer now and, you know,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I don't need this, really.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- And I put a brave face on it, but it is hard work, isn't it?- Hmm.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Trying to stay positive. It's just not on.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It's not that we can afford it and they've got a hard life.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02We've all got hard lives. We're all fighting.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07We had the lady from Victim Support phone up this morning and she was really nice, you know?
0:18:07 > 0:18:10She says, you know, if we need any help to get in touch with her.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12And I said, "Well, I think we'll be fine, really."
0:18:12 > 0:18:16And I can understand how people can get really upset,
0:18:16 > 0:18:20but it's not like they wrecked the place or anything like that.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- We've been really impressed by the whole thing, really.- Thank you.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26The way your, you know, your quick response...
0:18:26 > 0:18:28We're quite overwhelmed by it all, to be honest.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Burglary is one of the most impactive crimes that you can have,
0:18:31 > 0:18:36- so Essex Police do try to give you the best service they possibly can. - Yeah, excellent.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- We'll see you later. - All right, thank you very much. - I'll keep you updated, anyway.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43For Southend Police, the investigation to recover
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Gary and June's stolen property will continue.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Oh, this is how they've left it? - Yeah.- Oh, my God!
0:18:57 > 0:18:59No-o-o!
0:18:59 > 0:19:03The impact of a burglary can take people long time to get over.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Across the country, police are working day and night
0:19:06 > 0:19:10to make sure the burglars pay for their crimes.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19Northampton is a large market town with a proud history of success on the rugby pitch.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23But just like any densely populated area,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26tackling crime is also an ongoing challenge.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30In 2009, Northamptonshire Police launched a new offensive
0:19:30 > 0:19:33to target serious crime in their area.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Inspector Daemon Johnson explains all.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Operation Guardian is Northamptonshire Police's response
0:19:39 > 0:19:43to serious acquisitive crime, or SAC, is the acronym we use.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46That's burglary, robbery and auto-crime,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49so that's theft of and theft from vehicle.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Been running since 2009, and we've seen great successes in that time.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Operation Guardian puts a high-profile police presence
0:19:56 > 0:20:00on the streets of Northampton to take the fight to the thieves...
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Police officers with a warrant!
0:20:01 > 0:20:04..and reassure law-abiding residents.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07We run these events once or twice a month.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13I've got three sergeants and 18 constables going out and knocking on doors.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16We've also got what we call method of entry officers, so we'll
0:20:16 > 0:20:20dynamically enter the premises so we can get in the door really quickly.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22DOOR CLATTERS
0:20:22 > 0:20:26That's a lot of resources, and we get some really good results.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31It's 7am at Weston Favell police station.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35The Operation Guardian team is gearing up for another busy day.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39What we're doing this morning is we're going out,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and we're going to arrest a known burglar for burglary.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47We know that he is going to be at home, we hope he's going to be home,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and the team is going to go there early doors and make that key arrest.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54The previous day, a mobile phone
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and quantity of cash was reported stolen from a local house.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Looking for a Samsung Monte Slider, black mobile phone.
0:21:01 > 0:21:07The woman who reported the crime also identified the man she believes was responsible.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Sergeant Steve Lang is leading a raid on this suspect's home.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13He is to be arrested for a burglary that occurred yesterday.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17It's been described that he may, if the front and rear aren't covered,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19might try and do a runner.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23So the idea is that we are going to go along, get it surrounded, knock on the door and get him in.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26As far as I'm concerned, first person to get their hands on him can do the arrest.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28OK? Let's go.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44The team's destination is a suburban street on the outskirts of Northampton.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47He'll be leaving his address roundabout 8.30,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50so we need to get there before 8.30 to try and catch him in.
0:21:50 > 0:21:55With the suspect likely to be in and unprepared for the police's visit,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59early morning is often the best time to raid an address.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03The man they plan to arrest is very well-known to the Operation Guardian team.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07He has a long criminal history and is on bail for two other burglaries.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- There's a woman outside, go! - Go, outside.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Just round the back.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21The team needs to make sure the suspect doesn't make a run for it.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Officers race to cover the back of the house as the rest prepare to enter at the front.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31There's no problem gaining entry as the suspect's mother is outside.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33She confirms he's upstairs.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36It's OK, we'll come in. Thank you very much. Need to speak to him.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Yeah, can you get him up for us, please?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- MOTHER:- 'Load of police here!' - SUSPECT: 'What?!'
0:22:43 > 0:22:46The man's bedroom door appears to be locked.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Open the door, it's the police.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51If the officers can't quickly persuade him to open up,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53they'll have no choice but to force entry.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Do it straightaway, please, or the door goes in!
0:22:57 > 0:23:01The suspect decides opening the door is the more sensible option.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03My name's Sergeant Steve Lang, OK?
0:23:03 > 0:23:07You're under arrest on suspicion of burglary that occurred yesterday.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- 'No, I'm not... I'm not happy.' - I know you're not happy.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11You've just been woken up, haven't you?
0:23:11 > 0:23:13I wouldn't be happy either, however...
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Just take a hold of him.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- We'll grab him a jumper and then take that with him.- Yeah.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- Have you got one? - Hello, Candid Camera, how do you do?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Wait a second, your mum's going to get you a jumper, mate.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28BLEEP sake, man!
0:23:28 > 0:23:30BLEEP!
0:23:30 > 0:23:33- It should be on the...- BLEEP!
0:23:33 > 0:23:37The man seems less than happy to have been arrested in his own bed.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41I don't know, apparently attempt to burgle or some BLEEP.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Who's that woman, anyway?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47He'll be taken back to the station for questioning,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49while the team search the house for stolen goods.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51OK, take a pew, young man.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04The suspect is well-known to Northamptonshire Police.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Having been arrested on many occasions,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12the man is no stranger to police custody procedure.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18But it seems the offence he's been detained for today isn't straightforward.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It turns out he knows the person who reported him.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26And I know what address this is for. It's my friend's house.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Why would I would rob my friend? - Yeah.- Put it that way.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32It's not right, is it?
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Don't rob off your friends or your family. Shouldn't rob altogether.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40The man remains adamant he's done nothing wrong.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45Still, police must investigate all serious allegations of this type.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47House burglary is a horrible crime.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Everybody thinks that their home is their castle,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and the thought that somebody has broken in,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56gone through your personal possessions, it's horrible.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00I can say that myself because I actually have been burgled, so it is a horrible feeling.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09In the case of James' stolen tablet computer, the man tracked down
0:25:09 > 0:25:13using the device's signal pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17He was sentenced to a 12-week community order,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20which included an evening curfew.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23The police did a fantastic job. I was very grateful to them.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25They dealt with it very, very quickly,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27they've raided the house later that morning,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30and I was back with the iPad by the next day.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33I was very, very pleased. And very, very grateful to them.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36We're taking the stuff back as well, returning property to somebody,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39because it's full of personal stuff and photos that, you know,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42they can't replace, so that feeling of taking it back and also bringing
0:25:42 > 0:25:46some burglar into the cells, you can't beat that feeling.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51The case of Gary and June Howard's burglary remains unsolved.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55So far, their stolen property hasn't been recovered.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00All the police can do now is hope for some new information to help them catch the burglars.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03The robbery brought home to Gary and June
0:26:03 > 0:26:07how important keeping your home secure can really be.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Obviously, we're urging everyone to make sure all their doors
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and windows are locked before they go to bed or go out.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17They've left their door unlocked, it might be a one-off, but that's all the person needed to get in.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21The man arrested on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone
0:26:21 > 0:26:25and cash from a house was later released without charge.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28However, he has since pleaded guilty to another burglary,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32- and was sentenced to two years in prison.- OK, take a pew, young man.
0:26:35 > 0:26:41Operation Guardian has been highly effective in reducing serious crime across Northamptonshire.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45It's continuing to get excellent results for the police.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Last year alone, we had a 22.5% reduction,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52so that's 2,500 less victims of crime, which is great news,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57cos a percentage is a percentage but real people is what matters to us.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd