0:00:02 > 0:00:06Teams of police are fighting a rise in burglaries across the UK...
0:00:06 > 0:00:07He left his phone.
0:00:07 > 0:00:13My Timberlands have gone. Oh, for God's sake.
0:00:14 > 0:00:20The people that do this are professionals. This is what they do for a living.
0:00:20 > 0:00:26..specialist units working with the latest technology and the community-minded among us...
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Just wondered if you were around, if you heard anything?
0:00:29 > 0:00:30..to track down the thieves...
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Hold it right there! Stop!
0:00:32 > 0:00:36..and make sure they are held to account.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40It's not just our expensive gadgets that are being taken from us.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44They just went in, took what they could and went.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49- It's our cherished heirlooms, too. - The thing that upset me most was the loss of my mother's engagement ring.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54It's going to take a while to just get used to what's happened and get over it.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Items that mean the world to us.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Very upset over it, really.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05But police officers love nothing more than to recover these prized possessions...
0:01:05 > 0:01:10I can confirm it is their sat-nav, so result.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11..and return them to us.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14I didn't expect to see it again.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17To get those items back to people is really fantastic.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23I think the owners might be crying in happy tears.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28The police are amazing. I am forever indebted to them.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32This is Robbed Raided Reunited.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Thanks very much.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I never thought I'd see this again.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56Coming up, police investigate a Christmas burglary at a family home.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00- They've had loads of stuff. - Oh, for God's sake.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04It's like they've come in and just shopped for their family. All different things have gone.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Officers in Aberdeen raid a flat on the trail of stolen property.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13- Police! - These are the guys I wouldn't expect to see cycling about for fitness.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18And I wouldn't expect to see a £1,000 bike in their flat.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23A dramatic discovery by police brings a special delivery for one happy homeowner.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29- Hopefully we've got something for you. It's like Christmas come early. - I didn't expect to see it again.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And a famous footballer is reunited with a precious, long-lost gift.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37These items have come from a number of burglaries
0:02:37 > 0:02:42with a number of victims across a very large geographical area.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Christmas. The season for goodwill, good food and family.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52There's another, far less pleasant Christmas tradition.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57For a few individuals, it's about taking rather than giving.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04It's 5pm in Southend, Essex.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Police burglary investigator Mark Sawyer is en route
0:03:10 > 0:03:14to a family whose home has been robbed four days before Christmas.
0:03:14 > 0:03:23Received a call from a gentleman who's returned home to discover his rear door has been forced open.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Horrible time of year for it to happen.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Ten minutes after the family called 999,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33a police forensic team arrived to examine the house.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Now, half an hour later, Officer Sawyer takes charge.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I'm going to be the officer investigating this burglary.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45I think, I'm not sure because I haven't checked everywhere, I think my iPod has gone.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49They've had a go at our Christmas presents here.
0:03:49 > 0:03:55Obviously left that because I presume it's too big. If they're on foot, I don't know, I presume so.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58But there's nothing else that we can see. We've not checked particularly.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01My wife hasn't been in that long so we've not checked everywhere.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03They've had a go at the presents.
0:04:03 > 0:04:09Paul and Sue Hooper returned home from work to find their Christmas presents ransacked.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13And it isn't the first time this has happened.
0:04:13 > 0:04:20- We were burgled 11 years ago, two days before Christmas 11 years ago. - Really?- We were wrecked.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26Burglaries tends to rise over Christmas as thieves look to take advantage
0:04:26 > 0:04:30of the dark nights and houses full of expensive presents.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36I just feel shocked again, really. It's not very nice, is it? Especially this time of year.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Each burglar specialises in how they get in,
0:04:39 > 0:04:43whether that's through the front door, a side window or the rear door.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48So they're looking for a particular type. They're not actually looking at the house as what the contents are,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50but it's how they're going to get in.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It could be that your house is the first one they've seen
0:04:53 > 0:04:56where it's that particular style of door where they specialise in getting in.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59So it's purely an opportunist.
0:04:59 > 0:05:05- So when was the last time the last person left the house this morning? - Me.- It was yourself, yeah?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- Is that ten past nine? - About that, yeah.- Right.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13Until their daughter Charlotte returns to check her bedroom and presents under the tree,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17the full cost of the break-in remains unknown.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Be quite nice if they give us ten minutes with the burglar once they've been caught.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Well, there is something that's called restorative justice.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29They have the opportunity to put the victim and the burglar in the same room.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34- On their own?- Unfortunately not, no. - I wouldn't think so. - Not unsupervised, no.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40The next step for Officer Sawyer is to find how the burglars got in.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50- Is that locked, is that closed? - No, they've undone the bolt there.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- Definitely bolted. It flaps in the wind otherwise. - Gained entry through the side gate.
0:06:00 > 0:06:07Once in the rear garden, they've probably got some time then to do whatever they need to do
0:06:07 > 0:06:11to gain entry. On this occasion they've smashed the rear glass.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16They've probably used a small tool that would cut seat belts and smash glass in an emergency.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21It's like a steel hammer, it's very small, that would puncture the glass.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27With forensic tests already complete, the next stage is to make the property secure.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Burglars, too, are interested in their own security.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37They don't want to be seen. They don't want to be heard. And they don't want to be hurt, either.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41So that's the three sort of things that they like not to happen.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52At last, Paul and Sue's daughter Charlotte returns home.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Now the family will find out how bad this burglary really is.
0:06:58 > 0:07:05Shall we go and have a look and see? Come upstairs and see.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16Yeah, the drawers in my room. My two watches have gone, both of them.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24My two Tiffany bracelets have gone. My Links bracelet's gone. Cameras have gone.
0:07:24 > 0:07:30- I think my Mulberry bag's gone. - Your what?- Mulberry. - Mulberry bag?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32What about our Uggs? Did you check for our Uggs?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- They've had my Uggs. - Grey?- Yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44A number of Charlotte's most valuable items have been stolen,
0:07:44 > 0:07:49from expensive jewellery to her designer sheepskin boots.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Charlotte knows exactly what presents were under the tree.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57It's time to find out how ruthless the burglars have been.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01This is my Christmas list of everything that I've bought and wrapped that was under the tree.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Quite a lot of it I can see that's gone.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09I think there's quite a few presents missing. They've had loads of stuff.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16I imagine they've obviously ripped it, seen what it is and put it in the bag.
0:08:16 > 0:08:23- I noticed under there the big red box.- Oh, that was yours! - I can't see anything else.
0:08:23 > 0:08:30Paul's main present to his wife has been stolen and his own Christmas surprise is ruined.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32They've obviously seen your present, Dad!
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Don't tell me. - For Paul, there's nothing to laugh about.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Happy Christmas! You've got one present here.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49The true scale of this break-in is becoming clear.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I assumed that they'd come in here and just nicked...
0:08:52 > 0:08:57Because it looks like all small stuff. But now that.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- They'll sell them.- I've got Timberlands there now.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I can't believe it. I never even looked.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19- My Timberlands have gone!- Oh... - Oh, for God's sake.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- There, look.- Timberlands, yeah.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32And this, there's just nothing on it.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37Looks like 10 or 12 shirts gone, I'd say. Oh, I don't know.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41These criminals have treated the family's home like a department store.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46It's like they've come in and just shopped for their family, isn't it? All different things have gone.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50PC Sawyer has a full list of stolen items,
0:09:50 > 0:09:56a crucial step if he's ever to be able to reunite the family with their possessions.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59The rear door has been patched up and the broken glass swept away.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- Well, I'll let you carry on with your evening.- Thank you. - You take care.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14PC Sawyer begins to broaden the investigation,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17starting with speaking to the neighbours.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22- Unfortunately your neighbour during today has been burgled.- Really? - Yeah, yeah.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25I was just wondering if someone may have seen or heard anything.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30The smallest detail could crack this case. He tells the neighbours to call him immediately
0:10:30 > 0:10:32if they remember seeing anything significant.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Thank you very much. Thank you for your time.
0:10:37 > 0:10:43There's a variety of things taken, from clothing, Christmas presents,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47so my personal opinion would be that a number of people involved
0:10:47 > 0:10:53and literally each person would have their own sort of preference as to what they wanted to take.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Obviously somebody up to no good in the area. So for your own...
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I can see you're part of the neighbourhood watch.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03- We've also got an alarm. - Oh, you've got an alarm? Oh, right. Excellent.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- Just make sure you have that on at the right times.- Yeah, will do.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11No family should have to go through what the Hoopers are experiencing.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15For PC Sawyer, this investigation is just beginning.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20We've been very successful over the last few weeks in terms of catching people.
0:11:20 > 0:11:27In the next 20 minutes, half an hour, an hour, somebody could be stopped carrying the items.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The night is young and anything can happen.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Catching burglars red-handed isn't the only way police recover your valued items.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46Across the UK, they're also cracking down on the trade in stolen goods.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53Aberdeen, a city of historic streets and cultural landmarks,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56also has one of the highest rates of burglary in Scotland.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Police!
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Drugs are the root cause of most burglaries in Aberdeen.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Many drug dealers will accept stolen goods as payment.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10These dealers can also be armed and dangerous.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13You wouldn't want that pointed at you, would you?
0:12:13 > 0:12:18In response, Grampian Police launch regular operations to fight back and catch those responsible.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28Sergeant Dave Ferguson and his team at Grampian CID are preparing
0:12:28 > 0:12:32to raid a flat for stolen goods linked to the sale of drugs.
0:12:32 > 0:12:38Intelligence has been received over the past month that they have been dealing heroin from that address.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42It's on the north side of the city. We'll go along in convoy, make sure every room is covered
0:12:42 > 0:12:46as we're going into the house. Everybody handcuffed, taken in.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Officer safety, we're wearing body armour. Be aware, we do know the threat,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53we're going into this place and we're searching, watching out for any needles.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58We're all kitting up with body armour now because we don't know
0:12:58 > 0:13:00the threat we're going to encounter going into the flat.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03When we do go there, we will force the door
0:13:03 > 0:13:07and get what we call a rapid entry into the premises and get the persons secure.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15The team mount up and head for a suburb,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19aware of the fact stolen goods are often moved on quickly.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Certainly one of the guys that's in the flat
0:13:25 > 0:13:28or we expect to be in the flat, he's a known resitter,
0:13:28 > 0:13:34so he accepts stolen property for the drugs he's been selling.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39We'd kind of like to think, you know, we might find some laptop computers in here and high-value property.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Dave and his officers wait nearby for an advance party to gain
0:13:46 > 0:13:49access to the ground floor of a block of flats.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53We don't want to be all standing out the front of the building,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56he looks out the window, sees us and throws his drugs away or disposes of them.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Access to the ground floor now secured, they move in,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11braced for what could be a serious physical confrontation.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Unexpectedly, one of the suspects turns out to be in the lobby, where he is quickly detained.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28He volunteers the keys to the flat, allowing the team to get in without smashing the door in.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34But the police can't be certain the flat is empty.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Police!
0:14:44 > 0:14:47With no-one else at home, the two men are brought up for questioning.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52Just got a few quick questions. Right, before I do a caution, you're not obliged to say anything.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Anything you do say may be noted down and may be used in evidence.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58First question being, do you understand the caution?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Are there any controlled drugs in this flat?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Are there any large amounts of cash in this flat?
0:15:06 > 0:15:11The search reveals a variety of drug-dealing equipment.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16There's scales, numerous mobile phone SIM cards, which we would expect in a dealer's flat.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21There's the knives for cutting up what we'd call the gear.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Everything's there but there's certainly a small amount of herbal cannabis
0:15:26 > 0:15:28that's been found at the moment.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31As predicted, there are also a number of possible stolen items,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34including an expensive mountain bike.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38The Gary Fisher pushbike is probably valued at about £1,000.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42Now, these are the guys that I wouldn't expect to see cycling about for fitness
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and I wouldn't expect to see a £1,000 bike in their flat.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Other items believed to be stolen include two cameras and an iPod.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53The two men are taken in for questioning on suspicion of handling stolen goods
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and possession of drugs.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02The confiscated items go back to the station
0:16:02 > 0:16:05to be checked against a database of stolen property.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12Officer Emily Hesp has to find out whether seized items are stolen or not.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18Just having a check for the make and model, and any serial numbers so I can check it on the system,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21see if it comes back as stolen property.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Every bike has a unique serial number marked on it,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28as do electrical items like the seized cameras.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Any time we take any property we believe to be stolen,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34we check it against our crime file system
0:16:34 > 0:16:37to see if it relates to anything that has been stolen, and if it has,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41we would then contact the original owner and get them to identify the property.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45The more details you can give when reporting stolen property,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47the greater the chances you'll get it back.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51If not a serial number, then a detailed description
0:16:51 > 0:16:55will give officers like PC Hesp something to work on.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00On this occasion I can't find anything matching the description of the bike downstairs.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05Doesn't mean to say that it's not stolen. There's just no record of it on the system.
0:17:06 > 0:17:12Bike theft is serious business, often with links to organised criminal gangs.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15But police investigative teams are working round the clock
0:17:15 > 0:17:19to catch the thieves and recover as many stolen bikes as they can.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26In one such operation, police raided a series of lock-ups,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29including a garage in a quiet suburb of Hertfordshire.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Inside, they found thousands of pounds' worth of stolen bikes.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38The investigation is being led by Detective Sergeant Bull.
0:17:38 > 0:17:44There's a couple of images that we have here of our main subject being arrested from his home address.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48We arrested 13 people. We charged seven of those people.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51In terms of convictions, these guys have now pleaded guilty.
0:17:56 > 0:18:02This morning, DS Bull and DC Miller are hoping to reunite another owner with their stolen bike.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07This one was advertised on eBay and sold to an innocent purchaser for £820.
0:18:08 > 0:18:15The bike matches the description of one stolen in a burglary four and a half months earlier.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19The officers must confirm it's going back to its rightful owner.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22His home was broken into and the three bikes were stolen.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24This is the last one we need to take back to him.
0:18:26 > 0:18:32Avid cyclist Steve Cowell built his bike from scratch using top-of-the-range parts.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36This was a bike you couldn't buy in the shops.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Yeah, completely different bike. Loved it. Just a shame to lose it, really.
0:18:40 > 0:18:47When Steve's home was burgled, the only things that were taken were the family's three expensive bikes.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51If it was that calculated and they knew what they were going for, how did they know what we'd got?
0:18:51 > 0:18:56Had they been following my daughter, maybe, when she was doing her paper round to see where she lived
0:18:56 > 0:18:59and realised she'd got a half-reasonable bike?
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Had they seen us come back at the end of a ride on a weekend when we'd been out?
0:19:02 > 0:19:06It's quite unnerving, really, but at the same time you try to do your best to not unsettle the kids
0:19:06 > 0:19:12as well because they probably feel it more than we do in that respect. So, yeah, it's quite difficult.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18Steve had only had his bike on the road for three months before it was stolen.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21This would've been the only photo I had of me on the bike
0:19:21 > 0:19:24because the bike only came on the road, really,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26when I'd finished it end of April, beginning of May.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30The first proper ride that I had to do where we've got any photos was on the London to Brighton
0:19:30 > 0:19:36this year with some friends of mine. So it's the only photo I've got of this bike before it was stolen.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43Two of Steve's bikes were found and returned to him after the Hertfordshire garage raid.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47But police couldn't find any trace of his special self-built bike.
0:19:47 > 0:19:53A few weeks later, the team intercepted this bike after it was sold on the internet.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57DS Bull and DC Miller need Steve to prove it belongs to him.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- Hi.- Hi.- DS Bull, Herts Police.- Steve Cowell. - How you doing? You all right?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Hopefully we've got something for you.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- It's like Christmas come early, isn't it?- I didn't expect to see it again.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15OK. Obviously you've had the two bikes back already. So hopefully this is number three.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19As you know, it was sold on to an innocent purchaser in Derby.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25We'll take it out of the box and you can show me exactly why it's identifiable to you.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Steve hasn't seen his prized bike for four and a half months.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33What was the initial purchase price of this one?
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- Well, I bought it as a frame and built it up in bits.- Oh, OK.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40So obviously it's difficult to say, but frame retails for about 2,000.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44So obviously the component parts you've added on yourself. Can you tell me which ones they are?
0:20:44 > 0:20:49Pretty much everything. Brakes, Ultegra SL brakes, Ultegra 6700 gear set.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54- The Kinetic One wheels. - And the tape that's on the rear forks?
0:20:54 > 0:20:57That was on the frame already. That's part of the frame.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01If you've got the documentation so I can just verify the serial numbers.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05It's straightforward for Steve to show the bike is his. He's got the frame's serial number.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06Oh, fantastic.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11- The bike with the wheels, the gear sets, everything. - Brilliant. Superb.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- So this is definitely your baby, then?- Yes.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Do you plan to keep this one?
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I'm not sure, to be honest. I have replaced it.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23There is a sentimental value to it. Again, because of some of the people I ride with,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27I've got a couple of friends that potentially might be interested in upgrading.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Then I'll pass the funds back to the insurance company.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34Excellent. Well, we're more than happy. Thanks ever so much for seeing us today.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Glad it's your cycle and it's a pleasure to return it to you.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40All right, sir, thank you very much for your time. Really appreciate it.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44Police advise to always keep a record of the serial number,
0:21:44 > 0:21:49make and any other marks that can help identify a bike if it's stolen.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51These details can be registered online,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55which helps police return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00It's good to get it back. It'll be interesting to see what it's like to ride again,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04given that obviously it's in a pile of pieces at the moment.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I'm pleased with the work the police have done.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11It's quite clear that when you see the sort of depths they've gone into
0:22:11 > 0:22:13with this operation, it's amazing, the work they've done.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16They've been very helpful, very friendly. They've been good.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21A test run now. Hopefully everything's going to be OK and no further problems.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23See you in a minute.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28The thieves who stole Steve's bike used auction websites to sell on their stolen goods.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40The police also use the internet as a powerful weapon against burglars,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44and as a means to reunite property with its rightful owners.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48In London, the Metropolitan police are currently using websites
0:22:48 > 0:22:53to display a huge haul of seized stolen property.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58DS George led the operation, codenamed Avitus.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01We raided a number of addresses over east London and Essex,
0:23:01 > 0:23:05where we recovered all the property that's here today, nearly 500 items.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09The estimate is that it's somewhere in the region of £500,000.
0:23:09 > 0:23:15Our priority is identifying as much of the property as possible, handing it back to the lawful owners.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19The bulk of the items we're talking about are watches, and they're high-value watches.
0:23:19 > 0:23:26Your Rolexes, your Cartier. This Cartier watch here, it's got a value of about £15,000.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29But as yet we've been unable to trace who it belongs to.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35These aren't opportunist thieves who steal what they can from general members of the public.
0:23:35 > 0:23:41They're highly organised and carefully target the rich and sometimes the famous.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44We believe that the people responsible for these crimes are organised,
0:23:44 > 0:23:49targeting the people, and they know who they're looking at and what they're looking for.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55The haul includes some items the police hope to reunite with a high-profile owner.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59The former Arsenal footballer Lauren was burgled in March 2005
0:23:59 > 0:24:02and several luxury watches were stolen.
0:24:02 > 0:24:10I got back to the house, everything was open. You feel that they stole your privacy because, you know...
0:24:10 > 0:24:19Today, he and his wife have flown from Spain to find out if any of the recovered items are theirs.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23- I think you'd recognise that if that was yours.- No, it's not. - Not yours?- No.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27- Right, OK. And that one.- Yeah.
0:24:29 > 0:24:35- This is...- That's the one, yeah? - This is one of them, yeah. That's mine.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36LAUGHTER
0:24:37 > 0:24:41- That's one of mine. - All right, brilliant. Thank you very much indeed.
0:24:41 > 0:24:48The police have done a fantastic job. After six years, you never expect anything from the robbers.
0:24:48 > 0:24:56The recovered watch is worth £10,000. For Lauren, it's of great personal value, too.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59This was one of the special ones because my wife bought this for me.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05Not only the value of the watch, it's more the sentimental issues.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Lauren, his wife and watch can all return to Spain.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11For DS George, it's a pleasing success,
0:25:11 > 0:25:17although the scale of the case means there's still a lot of work to do.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20These items have come from a number of burglaries
0:25:20 > 0:25:24with a number of victims across a very large geographical area.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28We're talking sort of anywhere around the east and south of England,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31where these items have been stolen from.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Nice if they give us ten minutes with the burglar once they've been caught.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Sadly, despite the police efforts, the Christmas burglary
0:25:40 > 0:25:43at the home of Paul and Sue Hooper remains unsolved.
0:25:46 > 0:25:52In the Grampian Police raid, one suspect was warned for obstructing a drug search.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55The other man was charged with possession of cannabis.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01The bike seized at their flat was not registered as stolen.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Steve Cowell decided to sell his recovered bike
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and return the money to his insurance company.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12He has made several security improvements at his home.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Since the burglary, we've put an alarm on the house.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19We've even gone to the extent, somebody told us the best thing was to use a baby monitor.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23If somebody comes across the fence like they did before,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26we'll hear it hopefully before they get entry to any of the buildings.
0:26:26 > 0:26:32The Hertfordshire Police bike raids led to over £100,000 of stolen property being recovered.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Six people pleaded guilty to charges relating to handling stolen goods.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40In terms of property recovered, we're talking about 100 grand's worth of kit.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44In terms of crimes detected, that kit comes with 33 individual crimes.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49So you've got 33 individual victims of crime that have got their stuff back and have seen justice done.