0:00:02 > 0:00:05Burglaries are on the increase.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09It's a real trauma for... for all of us.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Usually, only certain people move around in their vehicles at night -
0:00:13 > 0:00:16taxi drivers, emergency services and villains.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21Thieves are not just targeting the expensive gadgets in our homes.
0:00:21 > 0:00:27- They take our cherished heirlooms too.- Your home is your sanctuary. Nobody should be in your home.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Items impossible to replace.
0:00:29 > 0:00:36Why go into someone's house and take the things that are most important - their security and their safety?
0:00:36 > 0:00:40- It's hard to take.- I don't think they've got any scruples.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44But these prized possessions are often recovered.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Get in there!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The police are on our side.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- Open the door or we'll put it through!- Police! Open the door!
0:00:54 > 0:00:59- Specialist anti-burglary units across the UK...- Come out now and make yourself known!
0:00:59 > 0:01:05- ..working with the latest technology...- If your prints are at a crime scene, we'll ask why.
0:01:05 > 0:01:11- ..and the good citizens among us... - I did say I'd stop and make sure the whole family was all right.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..to track down the burglars
0:01:14 > 0:01:17and get us back our stolen goods.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21They took so much trouble, especially when he suddenly said,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25"Joyce, I've got the ring!" It was fantastic.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29It was really lucky, so it was nice to get 'em back.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33This is Robbed, Raided, Reunited.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36- Thank you so much. - I feel very good, yeah.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38So rewarding, such a happy day.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53On today's programme, police are on a mission to help a young mum
0:01:53 > 0:01:57after the theft of her most precious possessions.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01That stuff is sentimental to me and now it's just gone.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07The extraordinary success story of police as they track down Cheshire's most wanted criminal gang.
0:02:07 > 0:02:14They were on the crest of a wave and weren't going to stop until they really, really hurt someone.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16SHOUTING, GLASS SMASHES
0:02:17 > 0:02:23And after a house is burgled, a heart-warming family story is revealed.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I didn't realise he was so secretive.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Grays Police Station, Essex.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Detective Steve Cunningham, five years with Grays CID,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41is part of a team of 15 in the Anti-Burglary Unit.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45We have what they call "the golden hour"
0:02:45 > 0:02:52which is attending the scene properly and trying to gain evidence while it's in its freshest state.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57The longer it goes without attendance, the less chance we have of detecting that crime.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02It's 6pm, the most common period for reporting burglaries.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06This is the time most of us return home from work.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21It's an emergency call from a young woman just returned home with her three children.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- What's the incident number? - PC Nick May joins DC Cunningham
0:03:25 > 0:03:29and they head for the family home ten minutes away.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Daytime burglaries, while houses are unattended, account for 40% of home break-ins.
0:03:34 > 0:03:40When these jobs come in at this time of night, they've happened during the day when the occupants are at work.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44The occupants come home and they realise they've been burgled.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:03:54 > 0:04:00Hello, I'm Steve, a detective from Essex Police, about your burglary. Hello.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Obviously, we'll take some details. We'll get Scenes of Crime down.
0:04:04 > 0:04:11- We'll get some details of what's been taken and see what we can do about this, all right?- OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16This is the second time Danielle has been burgled in six weeks.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20And last time, they made off with a very unusual haul.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I got broken into on the 4th of October.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27My four puppies were stolen.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Now I've been broken into again.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35DC Cunningham needs to establish exactly what's been stolen this time.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40Forensic evidence, like fingerprints, could be crucial in solving this case.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45- If you can be mindful not to touch anything at the moment...- Yeah.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50- Just point out to me without touching...- It was all inside this black bangle.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53All the gold. I put it there every night and it's gone.
0:04:54 > 0:05:01- There's a diamond sapphire ring which is a big cluster ring.- Yeah.- I've got another diamond sapphire ring.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Jewellery is often broken down immediately to make it less identifiable.
0:05:06 > 0:05:13Precious stones are sold separately. The value of gold has more than doubled since 2008.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17We'll do everything that we can to try and track it down.
0:05:17 > 0:05:23With gold, the melting value is so high, it tends to get turned over very, very quickly.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- But, um...- Yeah.- OK.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31For Danielle, these items were of huge personal value too.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35It's stuff that's been inherited and now it's just gone.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37The second time in a month!
0:05:39 > 0:05:43This is the method of entry - coming through the window here.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47We don't know if it's been forced or if it was left ajar.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Definitely the way they've come in.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55When Danielle left in the morning, she thought the house was secure.
0:05:55 > 0:06:01A cable looks like it's run through the window that might stop the window shutting properly.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06DC Cunningham may have solved the mystery of how this locked window was opened.
0:06:06 > 0:06:12Sometimes if you want an outside light, instead of drilling a hole through the wall,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15they poke the wire in through the frame in there.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Unfortunately, it actually stops the window from shutting
0:06:19 > 0:06:25and you can see the flexibility in the frame there where the window doesn't sit properly
0:06:25 > 0:06:29because of the wire stopping it sitting back in its latch.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34Because of that, it makes it easy to get something behind it and force it open.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39It's an hour since Danielle raised the alarm.
0:06:39 > 0:06:45Scene of Crime Officer Sarah Morgan arrives to gather forensic evidence.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48As we think the suspect has come through this window,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52we start with the point of entry window and work into the house.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58A single fingerprint or trace of DNA could lead the police straight to a suspect
0:06:58 > 0:07:00and Danielle's stolen jewellery.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Nothing is visible at the top here. Mainly just down the bottom,
0:07:04 > 0:07:10what we call "climbing marks", so it could be where they've grabbed hold to pull themselves up from outside.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14It's lower outside, so they'd need to pull in quite high up.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18As Officer Morgan continues to gather evidence,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22DC Cunningham establishes the burglar's escape route.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27They've gone out through the rear garden, come through the gap where the fence panel is out
0:07:27 > 0:07:33and then it looks like they've made their way out through the next easy access
0:07:33 > 0:07:36which is the missing panel on the rear fence
0:07:36 > 0:07:41which takes them away into the alley and away from the premises.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46Repairing the fence panel would make any burglar's life much more difficult.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Inside, a discovery is made -
0:07:50 > 0:07:53what looks like a footprint on the worktop.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58I'm just very gently brushing out the powder, so you can get a bit more definition.
0:07:58 > 0:08:04A special magnetic strip is used to carefully create an impression of the shoeprint.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07And then it lifts off
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and you're left with a nice, clear mark.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15The police now have an exact copy of the burglar's shoeprint.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19This will be sent straight to the police laboratory for analysis.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23They work with a system that matches all the footprints up,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28so it should tell you what trainer that is, when it was issued, what pattern, what brand.
0:08:28 > 0:08:34Footprint evidence can match a suspect to the crime scene in the same way as a fingerprint.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40After two break-ins in six weeks,
0:08:40 > 0:08:45DC Cunningham wants to make sure this doesn't happen to Danielle again.
0:08:45 > 0:08:51The first thing that stands out about that wire that runs through that window frame,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55that leaves a little gap for people to get things behind,
0:08:55 > 0:09:00so if we get that fixed, that'll solve your problem in the long term.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01All right?
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- She's saying "bye" now.- Bye-bye.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- Say "bye".- Bye-bye. - Good girl.- Bye. Say "bye".
0:09:08 > 0:09:12With a potentially vital forensic clue uncovered,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15DC Cunningham will widen his search for Danielle's jewellery
0:09:15 > 0:09:19in the hope of being able to track it down.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Danielle's obviously very upset by this.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26She's got young children in the house. She's a single parent.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32And the fact that people have been into her house and particularly into her bedroom
0:09:32 > 0:09:36is going to have a lasting effect on her.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40We'll go back to the station now, record the crime on the system
0:09:40 > 0:09:45and then start to look at some of the ongoing inquiries that are open to us.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51Most burglaries are not pre-planned. They're committed by opportunist thieves.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55While burglary officers deal with these every day,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59sometimes they face more dangerous and organised criminals.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Police!
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Harvey Newton's home was raided by a gang in May 2009.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13These are the bricks that they used.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16They obviously broke them away from the wall
0:10:16 > 0:10:21and those were the weapons that they used for entry.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Harvey and his family were away on the night of the burglary.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31They attempted to get in through this top window, but when that failed,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35they obviously kicked the front door in completely.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41Once inside, the gang ransacked every room of the Newton family home.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43The majority of stuff was jewellery.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48It probably amounted to something like £20,000-worth.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53The thieves found where the Newtons' most treasured personal items were stored.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58The sentimental stuff that, um... that hurt us most of all.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03Things were in a parcel. They'd been kept together for a very long time,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05which they found unfortunately.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08It was hidden way behind.
0:11:09 > 0:11:16It was the first place I headed. And you get this sickening feeling when you realise that that's gone.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21Harvey's parcel contained items dating back generations.
0:11:21 > 0:11:28These things were bundled together along with some medals that had come from as far back as my grandfather.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32There's a strong military tradition in Harvey's family.
0:11:32 > 0:11:38His father George was a decorated RAF pilot in World War Two.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42He baled out of a Lancaster bomber when they were testing it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45George later became Mayor of Daneside.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Oh, he was a gentleman. He was a nice guy.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52We miss him. He was a lovely guy.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Harvey's father was also a member of a very exclusive club.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59He was awarded the prized Caterpillar Badge,
0:11:59 > 0:12:05only given to pilots who have emergency-parachuted out of a plane as it goes down.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09The gang stole this extremely rare commemorative badge.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15I wanted to pass these on because I never considered myself to be the owner of these,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18nothing more than the custodian,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22and to pass them down to my children and then on to their children.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27It seemed Harvey's unique family legacy was gone for ever.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Cheshire Police were certain this was no isolated incident.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36It was part of a crime wave which led to one of the largest operations in their history.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43Starting in February 2009, the Anti-Burglary Team, led by DI Kev Bennett,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47were faced with a disturbing series of crimes.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52We started having serious offences happening on a regular basis.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58This set the alarm bells ringing. There's an increase in burglary offences. Why is that happening?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01These were no ordinary burglaries.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04This was the work of an organised criminal gang.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08The robbers targeted expensive homes across Cheshire,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12breaking in without caring whether there was anyone inside.
0:13:15 > 0:13:22In one such offence, the offenders removed the occupier or the owner of the house from the shower,
0:13:22 > 0:13:27frogmarched him round the house, demanding where the location of the safe was.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32So what we had was Cheshire experiencing offences
0:13:32 > 0:13:37that had an increase or an escalation in violence and confrontation.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42The rate and seriousness of the burglaries continued to increase.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Each crime they committed, the next one was a bit more serious.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49They were on the crest of a wave, if you like,
0:13:49 > 0:13:54and weren't going to stop until perhaps they really, really hurt someone.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56In their fightback,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01the police launched a special task force to catch the gang responsible,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03codenamed Operation Blackbird.
0:14:03 > 0:14:10Operation Blackbird commenced as a result of the type and quantity of offences that were being committed.
0:14:12 > 0:14:18In six months, the gang committed 25 robberies targeting expensive homes across the north-west.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21This is quite an affluent area of Cheshire
0:14:21 > 0:14:26and was really the stomping ground of this organised crime group.
0:14:26 > 0:14:33The objective is clearly to identify the team that is committing those serious offences.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40The investigation quickly began to focus on one particular family,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42already well known to the police.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47Intelligence was indicating the Bridge family were involved in this.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Not just them. The Bridge family and their associates.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56The Bridge brothers, John, Alan and Luke, were notorious in Widnes
0:14:56 > 0:15:01for their threatening and anti-social behaviour.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05In 2009, two of the sons, the two eldest sons, were released from prison.
0:15:05 > 0:15:12Shortly afterwards, we started having serious offences happening in and around Warrington
0:15:12 > 0:15:16which wasn't that far away from where the Bridge family lived.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20The police were certain they were involved.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25Members of the Bridge family and their associates were living the dream. None were employed.
0:15:25 > 0:15:32The only way they could afford the bling clothes, the bling cars was by going out and committing crime.
0:15:32 > 0:15:39With no recorded income, the family continued to flaunt their flash cars and expensive lifestyle.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45To make arrests, the police needed solid evidence connecting them to the crimes.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50DI Bennett's team placed the Bridge family home under 24-hour surveillance,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53secretly filming 2,000 hours of footage.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58What we're doing here is gathering evidence of their general appearance,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02what they're wearing, how they're walking, their general behaviour.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07A breakthrough came when the police noticed links
0:16:07 > 0:16:11between their surveillance footage and CCTV from crime scenes.
0:16:13 > 0:16:19Here you can see five individuals at a scene of crime and looking for a way in to burgle.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22This house has CCTV which has allowed us
0:16:22 > 0:16:26to capture and link the activity at this address
0:16:26 > 0:16:30with activity at the home address of the Bridge family.
0:16:30 > 0:16:38The suspects' movements to and from their home address tallied with the timings of burglaries taking place.
0:16:38 > 0:16:44They come out middle of summer, all dressed in dark clothing, carrying gloves and balaclavas.
0:16:44 > 0:16:51If these five people burst into your home in the middle of the night, how will that make you feel? Terrified.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56The team suspected this was very much a family business
0:16:56 > 0:17:01with the three brothers' father John Bridge Senior in overall charge.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05He became known during our investigation as Old Man Bridge.
0:17:05 > 0:17:11He was the co-ordinator. He was the one that was responsible for co-ordinating the disposal
0:17:11 > 0:17:14of the property that his sons were burgling.
0:17:15 > 0:17:22After four months, the team had amassed enough evidence to arrest the Bridges and their associates.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27We knew the ins and outs of this family, who was visiting, who was leaving,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31what vehicles they were using, what they were wearing,
0:17:31 > 0:17:36to the point that we could say they're wearing this type of trainer or coat.
0:17:36 > 0:17:43On the 19th of August, 2009, they were ready to take the gang off the streets of Cheshire.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45It's 4am.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Over 70 police officers are gearing up
0:17:48 > 0:17:52for the final phase of Operation Blackbird.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57For months, this job has worked on a need-to-know basis. Today, you need to know.
0:17:57 > 0:18:03During this series of crimes, offenders have forced their way into the homes of unsuspecting victims.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07This morning, the suspects will appreciate in some small way
0:18:07 > 0:18:11how that feels as we pay them a visit. Good luck.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18The Bridge family is unaware this major police operation is under way.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24Blackbird raid officers are moments away from the Bridge home.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29With the gang surrounded, the team is going in.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- GLASS SMASHES - Police!- Police!- Police!
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Move back from the door!
0:18:34 > 0:18:37The officers cover all routes out of the house.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- DOGS BARKING - Just stay where you are!
0:18:39 > 0:18:43The team was prepared for vicious attack dogs.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46They're locked up in any case.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- First name? John? - INDISTINCT REPLY
0:18:50 > 0:18:53What's your name, fella?
0:18:53 > 0:18:55John or Luke?
0:18:55 > 0:18:59They find the three brothers and their father inside.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01There's John, Alan, Luke.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04He's being messed around with now.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Mum, be quiet!
0:19:08 > 0:19:13John Junior, Alan and Luke Bridge are arrested
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and will be charged with burglary.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Their father is not arrested.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23The police will continue to build the case against him as they deal with his sons.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29In total, seven homes were raided simultaneously
0:19:29 > 0:19:32across Widnes and Merseyside
0:19:32 > 0:19:35as the police swooped on the Bridges' accomplices.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40A thorough search of each property provided strong evidence against the gang.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43While weapons and luxury goods were found,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47smaller discoveries gave the team the proof they were looking for.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51To our surprise, really,
0:19:51 > 0:19:57we started finding small items of property, little treasures that they had kept behind.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03Research proved that these little treasures had come from burglaries we had under investigation.
0:20:03 > 0:20:09The search of the Bridge home provided concrete evidence matching them to several crime scenes.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14Police discovered some much-loved items they could reunite with their rightful owner.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17In one of the bedrooms we recovered some war medals.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23One of those medals was engraved with Mr Newton's name.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28And that medal belonged to Harvey Newton's grandfather.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34Harvey Newton's home was burgled in May 2009.
0:20:34 > 0:20:40The Newton family was left devastated by the loss of several items of huge sentimental value.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43These included war medals
0:20:43 > 0:20:49and a special Caterpillar Badge awarded to his father, an RAF pilot during World War Two.
0:20:50 > 0:20:56Finding the medals at the Bridges' house proved it was their gang who ransacked his home.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Getting the medals back provided some comfort for Harvey.
0:21:00 > 0:21:06I understand that one of the officers found my grandfather's name around the outside
0:21:06 > 0:21:08and tied it back to us
0:21:08 > 0:21:13because in the First World War they put the name around the outside.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17So all credit to them. It was lovely to see them back.
0:21:19 > 0:21:25But his father's prized Caterpillar Badge wasn't found at the Bridges' home.
0:21:25 > 0:21:31Like most of the items stolen in their six-month crime spree, it had vanished without trace.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35We have had no co-operation from the Bridge family or their associates
0:21:35 > 0:21:39in relation to where that property went.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42We understand they were questioned quite heavily,
0:21:42 > 0:21:49but unfortunately, they wouldn't reveal the whereabouts of these special items.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52The gang was locked up,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56but the Operation Blackbird team were still not satisfied.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02There's a lot of property from Mr Newton's burglary that we will never recover, like the Caterpillar Badge.
0:22:02 > 0:22:09As the official investigation ended, Harvey's missing Caterpillar became a personal matter for the officers.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Mr Newton's dad used to wear that badge with pride.
0:22:13 > 0:22:20Part of my team went about researching why Mr Newton's father was awarded this badge.
0:22:20 > 0:22:27The officers appealed to the Caterpillar Club which still has an active base in the north-west.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31The Club agreed to replace Harvey's father's badge.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36A year after the burglary, the officers were able to pass it on to the family.
0:22:36 > 0:22:43It's been an emotional roller-coaster ride, really, from all these things being stolen and removed from me,
0:22:43 > 0:22:50and then to end with such a wonderful thing as these guys presenting us with a replacement Caterpillar.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55I just can't tell you how much I appreciate it. It's just wonderful of them.
0:22:55 > 0:23:01Harvey's father George had always been vague when describing his part in the RAF war effort.
0:23:01 > 0:23:07Researching his military history, the police made an incredible discovery.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11We thought he had baled out of a Lancaster bomber
0:23:11 > 0:23:13when they were testing it.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15That wasn't entirely true.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19His father at the time was on a covert mission.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24He was flying gliders and there was a select few that were being trained
0:23:24 > 0:23:28to actually be involved in the D-Day invasion.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30This glider was top-secret.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36The police were able to provide Harvey with a fascinating dossier,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39describing what his father really did in the war.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43I never realised that my father had been involved in this operation.
0:23:43 > 0:23:50They were out on a training flight when the wings folded, whilst they were in a testing dive.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Most of this I didn't know or I've never seen before.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I didn't realise he was so secretive.
0:23:57 > 0:24:04Thanks to the team, Harvey finally knew the true story of his father's wartime heroics.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08People like my father worked hard for these things.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11They went to do this, so we could live a free life.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16And to find that these things then get stolen is beyond comprehension.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20All they did was go out there to make sure these people had a better life.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Reuniting the Newtons with some of their stolen memories
0:24:24 > 0:24:28was a fitting end to a successful operation for Cheshire Police.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31That is just one of the nice things.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36From an investigation that had a lot of trauma and a lot of distress to people,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39this is something quite nice that's come out of it.
0:24:41 > 0:24:47The investigation into young mum Danielle's second burglary in six weeks remains open.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52The owner of the footprint has not yet been identified.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56The police security advice for protecting her property
0:24:56 > 0:24:59will help reduce the risk of it happening again.
0:25:00 > 0:25:07In April 2010, the Bridge gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle 25 properties
0:25:07 > 0:25:10across the north-west.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Cash, jewellery and luxury cars totalling £1.7 million
0:25:14 > 0:25:18were stolen during the gang's crime spree.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23A Proceeds of Crime Order was imposed against the gang members
0:25:23 > 0:25:26to repay all money earned from their crimes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30John Bridge Junior was jailed for 15 years.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Alan Bridge was sentenced to 12½ years.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Youngest brother Luke Bridge received seven years.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44Another five men that took part in the robberies were jailed for a total of 30 years.
0:25:45 > 0:25:52In September 2011, the brothers' father and gang mastermind, John Bridge Senior,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55was convicted of conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59He was sentenced to four years in prison.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04With the entire gang jailed, Operation Blackbird was complete.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Burglaries don't come much worse than what they were doing.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11These are really, really bad people.
0:26:11 > 0:26:17They have no respect for law and order, no respect for people, no respect for people's property.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22And in my opinion, they are where they deserve to be.
0:26:22 > 0:26:28Harvey decided to pass the new Caterpillar Badge straight on to his son Paul.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32He is now the custodian of this special memento.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36I feel that it's something that my family took pride in.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's something I can be proud of about my family and my granddad.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46People often ask what it's for. I say it's to do with my granddad having baled out of an aeroplane.
0:26:46 > 0:26:52Because it's quite unusual, even though it's small, it draws quite a lot of comment.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55It's just lovely to know that it's carrying on
0:26:55 > 0:26:59and that someone knows what it's for and what it means to us as a family.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd