Episode 1

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05We're on the case of a crime that affects over one in 50 homes - burglary.

0:00:05 > 0:00:07Coming up...

0:00:07 > 0:00:10I don't like the thought of someone being in my bedroom.

0:00:10 > 0:00:11I'm angry, very angry.

0:00:11 > 0:00:14We're with the police in the pursuit of justice

0:00:14 > 0:00:16as they carry out their raids.

0:00:16 > 0:00:20There's some laptops on the bed, I think these are stolen property.

0:00:20 > 0:00:23And we see how powerful it is when stolen goods

0:00:23 > 0:00:25get returned to their rightful owners.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29I'm just so pleased that you've found them.

0:00:29 > 0:00:33The best day ever. I'm just so happy, I can't believe it.

0:00:43 > 0:00:45First up today, we're in Yorkshire.

0:00:45 > 0:00:49DS Steve Brookes has received a good old fashioned tip-off

0:00:49 > 0:00:52and is preparing for a raid on a man suspected of committing a

0:00:52 > 0:00:56spate of burglaries in a small community.

0:00:56 > 0:00:58We've just received some information this morning.

0:00:58 > 0:01:00A lad called Anthony is responsible for the burglaries.

0:01:00 > 0:01:04The source tells me that there are laptops in this address.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06There are mobile phones.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09There is jewellery and the house is basically a storage place

0:01:09 > 0:01:12for all the stolen property the burglars have stolen.

0:01:12 > 0:01:15We will secure entry and Anthony will be arrested on suspicion

0:01:15 > 0:01:18of burglary based on the intelligence we've got already.

0:01:21 > 0:01:25Steve has been with the police for over 23 years, but even

0:01:25 > 0:01:28with this experience under his belt, it's still a tense time.

0:01:29 > 0:01:33We're on our way to Brinsworth. We've got three teams -

0:01:33 > 0:01:38myself and Alex, DS John Dimberline and a further crew. I've dealt with him before -

0:01:38 > 0:01:43prolific burglar, a cocky individual, full of himself.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49We're going straight in, mate. Straight in there.

0:01:52 > 0:01:54Right.

0:01:58 > 0:02:00Police! Police!

0:02:02 > 0:02:04Come downstairs, mate.

0:02:06 > 0:02:09There's no sign of Anthony in the house,

0:02:09 > 0:02:13but the team find another man and two women.

0:02:13 > 0:02:16You're under arrest for suspicion of burglary, mate.

0:02:16 > 0:02:19A quick search uncovers what appears to be stolen property.

0:02:19 > 0:02:21Two mobile phones, boxed up.

0:02:23 > 0:02:26Camera. All right, just put these handcuffs on, you're under arrest.

0:02:26 > 0:02:29- I haven't done nothing. - Well, there's stolen property here.

0:02:29 > 0:02:33- It's not my house and I haven't done nothing.- Sit down, please.

0:02:33 > 0:02:34Sit down there. Two minutes.

0:02:36 > 0:02:39We've got a number of crimes in this area which we are going to go through,

0:02:39 > 0:02:44look at the property and then try and reunite each item with the owner.

0:02:45 > 0:02:49Then, the team covering the back of the house spot the suspect.

0:02:55 > 0:02:57Two minutes after arriving at the house,

0:02:57 > 0:02:59the team at the rear have spotted a man running through

0:02:59 > 0:03:02the back gardens. It could the missing suspect.

0:03:05 > 0:03:09Steve can't see him. But the rest of the team are closing in.

0:03:19 > 0:03:23Less than ten minutes after arriving at the house,

0:03:23 > 0:03:26PC Mick Fletcher and DS John Dimberline make the arrest.

0:03:26 > 0:03:29- We've locked up the lad that ran off.- Anthony Wragg?

0:03:29 > 0:03:32- Yeah.- Brilliant. Absolutely delighted.

0:03:34 > 0:03:36This lad that we've got in the back of the car

0:03:36 > 0:03:38is a lad called Anthony Wragg.

0:03:38 > 0:03:40He's the lad that the information was relevant to.

0:03:40 > 0:03:42As soon as I went in the front of the address,

0:03:42 > 0:03:45he's come out the back, run down the back alley.

0:03:45 > 0:03:49I've seen him hiding behind a shed some 20 houses away.

0:03:49 > 0:03:52I asked him to come out, he made no reply.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55I told him if he didn't come out, I would send the dog in.

0:03:55 > 0:03:57At this time, we don't have a dog, but he didn't know that,

0:03:57 > 0:03:59so he came out, gave himself up

0:03:59 > 0:04:01and has now been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

0:04:01 > 0:04:05The information has turned out to be spot on - really accurate.

0:04:05 > 0:04:07It's never nice when they run.

0:04:07 > 0:04:11Especially not at my size and then when you find

0:04:11 > 0:04:14and arrest them... Yeah, it does give you quite a buzz.

0:04:14 > 0:04:17It's good news and I know the burglaries will stop

0:04:17 > 0:04:19because I have dealt with Mr Wragg before

0:04:19 > 0:04:23and he is one of our more prolific offenders, so I'm quite happy.

0:04:24 > 0:04:28The other man arrested, is also familiar to Steve.

0:04:28 > 0:04:30I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?

0:04:31 > 0:04:34Just sit on the settee. Did you say your name's Pete Fearn?

0:04:34 > 0:04:38Put some gloves on, start fetching what we think's stolen property to be checked.

0:04:38 > 0:04:42- 'Have you booked him?'- Yeah, we could just do with some bodies here.

0:04:44 > 0:04:46Steve soon finds items that seem to match

0:04:46 > 0:04:50those recently stolen in the local area.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53Yeah, I've got you, John. There's some laptops on the bed.

0:04:53 > 0:04:55I think these are stolen property.

0:04:57 > 0:04:59With both men now under arrest,

0:04:59 > 0:05:02they're taken to the station for questioning.

0:05:02 > 0:05:03Stop in the car, Alex.

0:05:07 > 0:05:08Just jump in, mate.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13Now, it's time for forensics.

0:05:13 > 0:05:17Lisa, a scenes of crimes officer, arrives to photograph the scene.

0:05:21 > 0:05:23Meanwhile, Adam continues the search

0:05:23 > 0:05:26and finds a number of mobile phones.

0:05:26 > 0:05:29That's about nine now. I don't know, because there's been that many,

0:05:29 > 0:05:31we've not kept track, but once we get back

0:05:31 > 0:05:34and review what we've seized, we'll have a look at them all.

0:05:38 > 0:05:40Forensic evidence such as fingerprints

0:05:40 > 0:05:43could provide a concrete link between the suspects

0:05:43 > 0:05:45and the stolen items.

0:05:45 > 0:05:50Even if it's the smallest amount of evidence - a fibre, for example.

0:05:50 > 0:05:52They're all little pieces to a jigsaw.

0:05:52 > 0:05:56Any evidence from here would be collated and hopefully pieces

0:05:56 > 0:05:58will start to be put together,

0:05:58 > 0:06:00so we would be able to get a conviction out of those, as well.

0:06:01 > 0:06:05With the search complete, the police have arrested their two main suspects

0:06:05 > 0:06:09and seized over 100 items they believe to be stolen.

0:06:09 > 0:06:11See, it's a great feeling.

0:06:11 > 0:06:15First of all, when the person that runs off becomes arrested.

0:06:15 > 0:06:18I've almost 17 years of service and it still gives you a buzz

0:06:18 > 0:06:20when you put the handcuffs on them.

0:06:21 > 0:06:24Secondly, when you can identify property

0:06:24 > 0:06:28and return property to people that've been the victims of crime.

0:06:28 > 0:06:31I mean, they want their property back and want some closure.

0:06:34 > 0:06:36Back at Maltby Police station,

0:06:36 > 0:06:39Steve and the team now need to sort through the items

0:06:39 > 0:06:42and try to trace the owners of the stolen property.

0:06:42 > 0:06:45I've got to say today has been quite an enjoyable day, because

0:06:45 > 0:06:48we've had 12 burglaries committed, which is 12 burglaries too many.

0:06:48 > 0:06:52When you've got families involved and particularly when they go home

0:06:52 > 0:06:55and go back into the house and seeing somebody in their house,

0:06:55 > 0:06:58disturbing people in the act of burgling the house.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00That must be absolutely horrific.

0:07:01 > 0:07:04Do I feel sorry for the burglars? No, not at all.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06If they choose to burgle people's houses,

0:07:06 > 0:07:08then I've got no sympathy whatsoever.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11Hello, can I speak to Mandy, please?

0:07:11 > 0:07:14Later, there's good news for some of the victims

0:07:14 > 0:07:15of the Brinsworth burglaries.

0:07:15 > 0:07:17You sound excited.

0:07:17 > 0:07:19Aw, she's crying.

0:07:22 > 0:07:2544% of burglaries happen in broad daylight.

0:07:25 > 0:07:29Even when we're at home, we often forget to do the basics

0:07:29 > 0:07:31like locking doors and windows behind us.

0:07:31 > 0:07:34This is what happened in Peterborough,

0:07:34 > 0:07:38when Parveen Ashraf returned home from a trip to Yorkshire.

0:07:38 > 0:07:41I had the three children in the car and suitcases and bags

0:07:41 > 0:07:45and all the paraphernalia you have when you have three young children.

0:07:45 > 0:07:48As normal, I put all my bags in the utility room

0:07:48 > 0:07:50and my husband hadn't come with us,

0:07:50 > 0:07:53I think he was working, so I came in, said hello to him

0:07:53 > 0:07:56and then I just sat chatting to him

0:07:56 > 0:07:58and we just heard the door slam.

0:08:00 > 0:08:04My husband said, "Is it one of the children?" I said, "No, the kids are playing in their rooms."

0:08:04 > 0:08:08I walked over to the utility room and all my suitcases

0:08:08 > 0:08:11and everything was there - it was full of all my stuff.

0:08:11 > 0:08:14But I definitely saw the keys were jingling.

0:08:14 > 0:08:16Parveen thought nothing more of it

0:08:16 > 0:08:20but later that evening, she couldn't find her handbag anywhere.

0:08:20 > 0:08:24I thought, "I'm just being haphazard and I've put it somewhere."

0:08:24 > 0:08:27And then the realisation that somebody had stolen it.

0:08:29 > 0:08:31I felt ever so stupid, really.

0:08:31 > 0:08:34Stupid for being that trusting

0:08:34 > 0:08:38and embarrassed that it could happen to me.

0:08:38 > 0:08:40This is my home and I feel safe

0:08:40 > 0:08:44and suddenly you go from feeling safe to feeling a victim.

0:08:46 > 0:08:48As well as feeling vulnerable,

0:08:48 > 0:08:53Parveen realized she'd lost some irreplaceable possessions, as well.

0:08:53 > 0:08:56For a woman, our lives are in our handbags,

0:08:56 > 0:09:00so pictures of my children, pictures of myself and my husband.

0:09:00 > 0:09:03But I think what really hurt was the fact that my husband didn't

0:09:03 > 0:09:07know there was about £250 in there because I didn't tell him

0:09:07 > 0:09:09because I was saving up for his birthday present.

0:09:09 > 0:09:14I would never carry £250 in cash on me.

0:09:14 > 0:09:16She wanted to know if any of her

0:09:16 > 0:09:19neighbours had seen anything suspicious.

0:09:19 > 0:09:22In the morning, I checked with my Neighbourhood Watch guy, Peter.

0:09:22 > 0:09:24He lives across the road and I asked him

0:09:24 > 0:09:27if he'd seen anything because he's quite vigilant and he said,

0:09:27 > 0:09:29"Oh, we saw somebody go into your garage

0:09:29 > 0:09:31"and ride off on one of your bikes."

0:09:31 > 0:09:33He said, "I thought it was your son."

0:09:33 > 0:09:35So, he must have opened the door, got the bag,

0:09:35 > 0:09:38gone to the garage and rode off.

0:09:39 > 0:09:40Just unbelievable.

0:09:42 > 0:09:45Parveen and her neighbours were dismayed

0:09:45 > 0:09:47that a stranger had come into their close-knit community

0:09:47 > 0:09:49and helped himself to their goods.

0:09:49 > 0:09:51She never expected to see her handbag

0:09:51 > 0:09:54or precious photographs again.

0:09:56 > 0:10:00But fast forward seven years and council worker Ian Lilley

0:10:00 > 0:10:03was busy tidying up the local neighbourhood.

0:10:03 > 0:10:08The shrubs were nearly as high as these trees and were

0:10:08 > 0:10:11overlapping the footpath by probably a metre,

0:10:11 > 0:10:15so we came here with a chainsaw

0:10:15 > 0:10:19and reduced the shrubs to a metre in height and, as we did so, we

0:10:19 > 0:10:25uncovered a lot of rubbish, bottles and in that area there was a bag.

0:10:26 > 0:10:29Unsure who it belonged to, Ian knocked on a couple

0:10:29 > 0:10:33of doors before leaving the bag with Parveen's neighbour.

0:10:33 > 0:10:36Peter walks over holding this little bag and I thought,

0:10:36 > 0:10:40"Ooh, that's strange. That looks like my old bag."

0:10:40 > 0:10:45I remember thinking, "No, don't be silly." And he said, "It's yours."

0:10:45 > 0:10:49Unbelievably, Parveen's stolen handbag had been hiding

0:10:49 > 0:10:52just 300 yards from her front door for seven years.

0:10:52 > 0:10:57I opened the side wallet where the money should have been

0:10:57 > 0:11:02and to my amazement, the money was still in there.

0:11:02 > 0:11:04Just amazing -

0:11:04 > 0:11:08how after seven years, everything that was stolen was in there.

0:11:08 > 0:11:12I was absolutely elated, I couldn't believe it.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15Parveen finally gets the chance to say thank you to Ian.

0:11:15 > 0:11:17- How are you?- All right, thank you.

0:11:17 > 0:11:20Aw, thank you so much for finding my bag and everything.

0:11:20 > 0:11:23It was a nice surprise for both her and myself

0:11:23 > 0:11:28to actually get some money back, plus all her possessions.

0:11:28 > 0:11:30She's even brought him a home-made snack.

0:11:30 > 0:11:34- I brought you a little something. - Right, thank you.- Yeah.

0:11:34 > 0:11:36Onion bhajis. Will they be all right?

0:11:36 > 0:11:38- Give you sustenance for the day. - Yes.

0:11:38 > 0:11:41I think, even now, when I talk about it, I smile,

0:11:41 > 0:11:43because it's an unbelievable story.

0:11:43 > 0:11:45I was absolutely made up, over the moon.

0:11:50 > 0:11:52Now to Essex, where police tackle an

0:11:52 > 0:11:57average of 19 burglaries every single day.

0:11:57 > 0:12:00It's 12.45 and another call is coming in.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17A woman has come home from work in the middle of the day

0:12:17 > 0:12:19to discover her front door is ajar.

0:12:19 > 0:12:22She's worried the burglars may still be inside.

0:12:25 > 0:12:2911 minutes after the 999 call, a local patrol team arrive on the scene

0:12:29 > 0:12:32and establish the burglars have gone.

0:12:32 > 0:12:34They're followed ten minutes later

0:12:34 > 0:12:36by DC James Freeman from Basildon CID.

0:12:37 > 0:12:39Jewellery. Upstairs mainly.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43- OK.- Looks like every room upstairs has been entered.

0:12:43 > 0:12:47James used to work for his local council as an engineer,

0:12:47 > 0:12:49but joined the police in 2009

0:12:49 > 0:12:52because he wanted to make a difference.

0:12:52 > 0:12:56My name is James Freeman and I'm a detective from Basildon CID.

0:12:56 > 0:12:59The burglars may have gone but they've been inside long enough

0:12:59 > 0:13:03to turn the normally immaculate house completely upside down.

0:13:14 > 0:13:19For home owners Janice and Stephen, it's an awful lot to take in.

0:13:19 > 0:13:21I came in and the door was about that ajar.

0:13:21 > 0:13:26I thought, "Oh, my God, have I forgot to close the door?"

0:13:26 > 0:13:29And then I thought, "No, I didn't." Because I remember I put my bag down

0:13:29 > 0:13:32and I dropped something outside and I picked it up and I thought,

0:13:32 > 0:13:36"Ooh, I better lock the door." So, it was clear in my mind that I did it.

0:13:36 > 0:13:40James needs to act quickly to establish what has happened.

0:13:40 > 0:13:43So, when you locked the door, how did you lock it?

0:13:43 > 0:13:46- Double locked it. - You double locked it with a key?

0:13:46 > 0:13:48- And it's still in the locked position.- Yeah.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50And then I thought, "The laptop's still there,

0:13:50 > 0:13:53"the telly's still there, no." And then when I went up after a little while

0:13:53 > 0:13:56and I thought, "Oh, no, I think we've been burgled."

0:13:56 > 0:13:58Then I heard a bump and I went, "Oh, my God.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01"Someone's still in here." So I ran back out and sat in the car

0:14:01 > 0:14:02and phoned the police.

0:14:03 > 0:14:07James knows that the real crime here is the emotional impact

0:14:07 > 0:14:10on Janice and Stephen.

0:14:10 > 0:14:14I feel vulnerable, very vulnerable.

0:14:14 > 0:14:16The fact that somebody's been in my house,

0:14:16 > 0:14:19I don't feel too easy about that.

0:14:19 > 0:14:22Slightly worried that we might get a return visit.

0:14:22 > 0:14:26I don't like the thought of someone being in my bedroom.

0:14:26 > 0:14:28I'm angry that someone's come into my house,

0:14:28 > 0:14:33that I work 12, 14 hours a day to maintain,

0:14:33 > 0:14:35while they are taking what they want. It's not on.

0:14:36 > 0:14:37I'm angry.

0:14:39 > 0:14:42Evidence gathering is key to James' investigation.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47Scene of crime officer Mandy Ferris must quickly search for any

0:14:47 > 0:14:51forensic clues before potential leads are lost.

0:14:51 > 0:14:54Just to let you know that I'm going to do some fingerprinting.

0:14:54 > 0:14:56Is it just upstairs that they've searched

0:14:56 > 0:14:57or have they been downstairs as well?

0:14:57 > 0:15:01- They've been in the drawers down there.- OK.

0:15:01 > 0:15:04Mandy wants to establish how the thieves got in

0:15:04 > 0:15:06and out of the property.

0:15:06 > 0:15:09I'm wondering if maybe they haven't exited through the back door,

0:15:09 > 0:15:12they've just had it open as a back route just in case she's come through

0:15:12 > 0:15:14the front and they've got a chance to run away.

0:15:14 > 0:15:18But you can see, there's a layer of water already where it's been

0:15:18 > 0:15:20raining in the past and there is no disturbance on there at all.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23But things like that, it's quite easy for them to jump over

0:15:23 > 0:15:27but there's nothing on there to indicate they've been on it. The back door's still locked.

0:15:27 > 0:15:29If I go around the house with you, you can

0:15:29 > 0:15:32show me what's been disturbed and we can have a look and see

0:15:32 > 0:15:36what's been taken and we'll try not to touch as much as we can.

0:15:36 > 0:15:39I mean, scenes of crime - generally, anything that has a nice,

0:15:39 > 0:15:42shiny surface will hold a print.

0:15:46 > 0:15:49This bag was in my dressing room and obviously it's been...

0:15:49 > 0:15:51It's been shifted.

0:15:51 > 0:15:54That room has been ransacked.

0:15:55 > 0:15:57Because it was all neat and tidy.

0:15:57 > 0:15:58- Everything put away?- Put away.

0:15:58 > 0:16:00Do you keep any jewellery in here?

0:16:00 > 0:16:03No, I've got jewellery, but it's not valuable.

0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Is it all, sort of, costume type? - Yeah.

0:16:07 > 0:16:11- This, I would say, is the worst. - OK, this is the master bedroom.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14Yeah, gone through.

0:16:14 > 0:16:17And my husband's watch was on the bedside cabinet

0:16:17 > 0:16:23and obviously that's been taken and he's got dive computers, cameras.

0:16:23 > 0:16:27Obviously, things you don't think that are valuable.

0:16:27 > 0:16:29No. They've had a good look through.

0:16:31 > 0:16:33I mean, these are sock drawers, underwear drawers

0:16:33 > 0:16:36and they've, obviously gone through, as you can see,

0:16:36 > 0:16:38pulling everything out.

0:16:38 > 0:16:43It's been ransacked. One of my cheap watches is still there.

0:16:43 > 0:16:46But the most expensive watch that I own is gone, obviously.

0:16:48 > 0:16:50That was on my bedside cabinet.

0:16:50 > 0:16:52It is something that I've always wanted,

0:16:52 > 0:16:56something I could never afford, but now I could.

0:16:56 > 0:16:57And somebody's taken it.

0:17:00 > 0:17:04James knows first-hand the lasting effect burglary can have on victims.

0:17:04 > 0:17:07His aunt and uncle experienced a nasty break-in,

0:17:07 > 0:17:10so he sees it as an important part of his job to reassure

0:17:10 > 0:17:13people that they haven't been specially targeted.

0:17:15 > 0:17:18Generally, 90% of burglars are opportunists.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21They'll walk down the street and try door handles

0:17:21 > 0:17:23and knock on people's doors to see if they're in.

0:17:23 > 0:17:25If no-one's in, they'll give the house a go.

0:17:25 > 0:17:30But it's very, very rare they'll ever try the same house twice.

0:17:30 > 0:17:33They're as worried about being caught as you are of them

0:17:33 > 0:17:35being in the house.

0:17:36 > 0:17:39But these burglars have been particularly bold.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43They forced a double-glazed PVC door in broad daylight.

0:17:43 > 0:17:47There's screwdriver marks all down the side of the door.

0:17:47 > 0:17:50That's really common with these doors.

0:17:50 > 0:17:53But it's unusual, because it's double locked. They've key locked it,

0:17:53 > 0:17:56which is normally the problem. If people don't key lock it

0:17:56 > 0:17:58then they can just pop it open and it flies open.

0:17:58 > 0:18:00Even though the door was double locked,

0:18:00 > 0:18:02the burglars forced their way in.

0:18:02 > 0:18:04Mandy wants to make sure the couple

0:18:04 > 0:18:06won't be vulnerable to another break-in.

0:18:07 > 0:18:10Obviously, they could do that again.

0:18:10 > 0:18:12Basically, it's an older version of the UPVC door,

0:18:12 > 0:18:17so your bolt comes straight out, whereas the new ones are hooked.

0:18:17 > 0:18:19They're hooked, so, even if they are double locked,

0:18:19 > 0:18:21they still can't get them open

0:18:21 > 0:18:23because they are literally latched into the frame.

0:18:23 > 0:18:26So you do need an upgrade.

0:18:26 > 0:18:28In our job, I sort of joined because I wanted to help people.

0:18:28 > 0:18:32So I always see it from the victim's side. But in films

0:18:32 > 0:18:34where they show... You're always on the burglar's side

0:18:34 > 0:18:37and not on the victim's side, whenever you see films.

0:18:37 > 0:18:39And I always think about it afterwards

0:18:39 > 0:18:41like I'm out to try and get them.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43It's not me so much, it's my wife,

0:18:43 > 0:18:46I'm worried about my wife. And she said before, if anything

0:18:46 > 0:18:48like this happens, she said,

0:18:48 > 0:18:50"I don't know if I could live in the same house."

0:18:50 > 0:18:54Stephen and Janice need to feel safe in their home again

0:18:54 > 0:18:58and it's Mandy's job to try and ensure the guilty are caught.

0:18:58 > 0:19:02Sometimes by unusual methods - like taking a cast of the marks

0:19:02 > 0:19:05left by the tool used by the burglars.

0:19:05 > 0:19:06All screwdrivers are unique,

0:19:06 > 0:19:10so this is really good, because if we do get anyone in custody or

0:19:10 > 0:19:11if we find a screwdriver, or anything,

0:19:11 > 0:19:14we might be able to link it back to this burglary.

0:19:14 > 0:19:18And also, it can potentially link up to another burglary.

0:19:18 > 0:19:20In fact, most burglaries are carried

0:19:20 > 0:19:23out by a very small number of criminals.

0:19:23 > 0:19:25When the police arrest just one burglar,

0:19:25 > 0:19:29they often see a big difference in the level of crime in the area.

0:19:29 > 0:19:32But right now, that's of little comfort to Janice.

0:19:32 > 0:19:35She's realised she may have lost a

0:19:35 > 0:19:37family heirloom that means a lot to her.

0:19:37 > 0:19:41I haven't looked in a box - I've got earrings that my auntie left me

0:19:41 > 0:19:45when she died. Now, if they've taken that, I will be extremely angry.

0:19:45 > 0:19:47The other things can be replaced.

0:19:50 > 0:19:53My earrings that my auntie left me - I'm just going to go and check

0:19:53 > 0:19:55to see if they're still there.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07No, I think they've gone.

0:20:07 > 0:20:09My mother gave them to me.

0:20:09 > 0:20:13She said that... My auntie never had any children,

0:20:13 > 0:20:14"So she left you these."

0:20:14 > 0:20:16And gave me them.

0:20:16 > 0:20:19They're probably not worth nothing, but they are to me

0:20:19 > 0:20:23and that's the effect that it has on people, I think.

0:20:25 > 0:20:26Why do they do it?

0:20:30 > 0:20:34It's not just the stolen treasures that cause so much heartache.

0:20:34 > 0:20:38Knowing that the thieves have access to their personal paperwork

0:20:38 > 0:20:42means that identity theft and fraud are serious concerns.

0:20:42 > 0:20:48They've gone through that lot - that's our personal information.

0:20:49 > 0:20:51Where was that kept normally?

0:20:51 > 0:20:54That would have been in here.

0:20:54 > 0:20:57All my wife's paperwork there has all our bank details on,

0:20:57 > 0:21:01so that will be one thing - I'll have to speak to the bank.

0:21:01 > 0:21:06So, the moral of the story is to shred, shred and shred again.

0:21:06 > 0:21:09And if you do need to keep important paperwork,

0:21:09 > 0:21:10hide it well out of sight.

0:21:12 > 0:21:15But as James knows, thieves aren't invincible.

0:21:15 > 0:21:19These people - they do slip up and they do make mistakes

0:21:19 > 0:21:21they do leave fingerprints, they do leave DNA,

0:21:21 > 0:21:24they are spotted by people and they will eventually be caught.

0:21:25 > 0:21:29What we then try and do is build as strong a case as we can against them,

0:21:29 > 0:21:32so that we are giving them as long as we can in prison.

0:21:34 > 0:21:37Stephen now has to check on one of his prized possessions.

0:21:40 > 0:21:43No, they're there. Now, that is amazing.

0:21:43 > 0:21:45Ayy! Good.

0:21:45 > 0:21:50- They obviously didn't look properly. - They've not taken my dive computers.

0:21:50 > 0:21:51Good.

0:21:51 > 0:21:54It's great news, but James understands that the only

0:21:54 > 0:21:57real consolation for Janice and Stephen will be

0:21:57 > 0:22:01knowing that the culprits can't prey on any other innocent victims.

0:22:01 > 0:22:04What we've got here is a hard-working family that unfortunately

0:22:04 > 0:22:07someone has come and invaded their privacy.

0:22:07 > 0:22:09Burglary is a very distressing crime.

0:22:11 > 0:22:16But these people - they do make mistakes, they do leave fingerprints.

0:22:16 > 0:22:19They are spotted by people.

0:22:19 > 0:22:21And hopefully we can get someone for it.

0:22:23 > 0:22:25Back in Yorkshire, PCs Mick Fletcher

0:22:25 > 0:22:28and Chris Wright are examining the spoils of their successful raid.

0:22:31 > 0:22:34As you can see, there's quite a wide array of property.

0:22:34 > 0:22:38Six or seven laptop computers, a quantity of mobile phones,

0:22:38 > 0:22:43TV, all the kids' games, there's pearls, there's all sorts of things.

0:22:43 > 0:22:46Although I'm not an expert on Jimmy Choo perfume, I don't think

0:22:46 > 0:22:50they're the type that would go out and buy Jimmy Choo perfume.

0:22:50 > 0:22:54The team have successfully seized over 100 items

0:22:54 > 0:22:56worth more than £10,000.

0:22:56 > 0:22:59We weren't expecting to find this much property.

0:22:59 > 0:23:02Hopefully, we'll be able to give some of these items

0:23:02 > 0:23:06back to the people, where it's come from, and reunite them.

0:23:11 > 0:23:12Hello, could I speak to Mandy, please?

0:23:12 > 0:23:15Mick's first call is to Mandy Price,

0:23:15 > 0:23:18who had been burgled two days before the raid.

0:23:18 > 0:23:20I might have a bit of good news for you.

0:23:20 > 0:23:24We currently have four people under arrest on suspicion of burglary.

0:23:24 > 0:23:28During the search of the house where they've been arrested,

0:23:28 > 0:23:34we've recovered two laptops - one eMachine and one Sony VAIO,

0:23:34 > 0:23:37it had a username of Dale.

0:23:37 > 0:23:38That's your son, is it?

0:23:38 > 0:23:42I feel pretty confident that we do have your stuff then.

0:23:42 > 0:23:44You sound excited.

0:23:44 > 0:23:46Aw. She's crying.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51Mandy heads straight to the station to identify her property.

0:23:52 > 0:23:56It's an awful feeling to know that somebody's been in your house.

0:23:56 > 0:23:59Then, for the last two days, I've just not felt safe because I know

0:23:59 > 0:24:02there are people out there and I thought my home was secure.

0:24:02 > 0:24:06I sat and burst into tears and he thought I was being...

0:24:06 > 0:24:09He said, "Oh, are you a bit happy?" I said, "No, I am crying."

0:24:09 > 0:24:10Cos I was just gobsmacked that

0:24:10 > 0:24:12they'd actually been able to find them.

0:24:14 > 0:24:16Right, Mandy, there's some things

0:24:16 > 0:24:18here that we've recovered from today.

0:24:18 > 0:24:21I would hope you can say, "Yeah, that's mine or that's mine."

0:24:21 > 0:24:24Feel free to have a little look, see what you think's yours

0:24:24 > 0:24:25and then we'll go from there.

0:24:25 > 0:24:27Right.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30She identifies her stolen laptop straight away

0:24:30 > 0:24:35and then spots something of great sentimental value.

0:24:35 > 0:24:38- That looks quite a...- That's me mum's engagement ring.- Is it?- Yeah.

0:24:39 > 0:24:43That doesn't actually fit my finger, so I have been saying

0:24:43 > 0:24:45that I was going to have it made bigger.

0:24:45 > 0:24:47But not got round to it, as yet.

0:24:47 > 0:24:49This is the most sentimental... Yeah.

0:24:53 > 0:24:56I'm just so pleased that you've found them.

0:24:56 > 0:24:58I feel a bit more safe. When I go to bed tonight,

0:24:58 > 0:25:00I think I might get some sleep.

0:25:00 > 0:25:02- Good news.- Yes.- Thanks.

0:25:04 > 0:25:07And Mandy's not the only one to get good news.

0:25:07 > 0:25:11Katie and Wesley Harris were burgled just after Christmas.

0:25:11 > 0:25:14They ruin people's lives. They've ruined our lives.

0:25:14 > 0:25:17But luckily there are people out there that help you.

0:25:17 > 0:25:21The heartless thieves stole over £1,600 of property,

0:25:21 > 0:25:25including the children's Christmas presents.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28The police have recovered nearly everything that was taken.

0:25:31 > 0:25:33This year's not been very good for us,

0:25:33 > 0:25:37but today has been probably the best day, hasn't it? To be honest.

0:25:37 > 0:25:42Yeah, this is the best day ever. I'm just so happy, I can't believe it.

0:25:42 > 0:25:44I bet you can't as well, can you?

0:25:49 > 0:25:52The team are working hard to build a case against the suspects,

0:25:52 > 0:25:55Anthony Wragg and Pete Fearn, for handling stolen goods.

0:25:57 > 0:26:01Finally, PC Mick Fletcher gets some good news.

0:26:01 > 0:26:05We've just received information that the people that were

0:26:05 > 0:26:08both charged last night in respect of the burglaries that we've

0:26:08 > 0:26:12been investigating pleaded guilty at court this

0:26:12 > 0:26:15morning to the offences that they'd been charged with.

0:26:15 > 0:26:19They've been remanded to Doncaster Prison as we speak

0:26:19 > 0:26:23and they're going to be sentenced on the 31st of Jul...

0:26:23 > 0:26:29Erm, 31st of January having both pleaded guilty.

0:26:29 > 0:26:30It's a great result.

0:26:30 > 0:26:34The guilty plea means the stolen property can be returned,

0:26:34 > 0:26:37because it won't be needed as evidence in court.

0:26:37 > 0:26:40And for Mick, who was once a victim of burglary himself,

0:26:40 > 0:26:44he knows that getting these two prolific offenders behind bars

0:26:44 > 0:26:47goes a long way to comforting the victims.

0:26:47 > 0:26:49Until you have been burgled,

0:26:49 > 0:26:52you can never describe that feeling to somebody.

0:26:52 > 0:26:54Thanks very much, anyway.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56Only if you've been that victim yourself.

0:26:56 > 0:26:58Thank you, thank you.

0:26:58 > 0:27:02The thought of somebody actually being in your house,

0:27:02 > 0:27:05uninvited, it's like having your space violated.

0:27:05 > 0:27:09Your place, the place that you go, you live, you sleep.

0:27:09 > 0:27:12And to think that somebody's been in - broke in -

0:27:12 > 0:27:14uninvited. Horrible feeling.

0:27:15 > 0:27:17- A laptop. Is that yours, Dale?- Yeah.

0:27:19 > 0:27:21You know very well that they're going to be pleased.

0:27:21 > 0:27:23Yeah, they're relieved.

0:27:23 > 0:27:25They're relieved these people are off the streets, they can

0:27:25 > 0:27:29continue about their normal, daily business and the things that they'd

0:27:29 > 0:27:31thought they were never going to see again, they're now going to be

0:27:31 > 0:27:33having back in their possession.

0:27:36 > 0:27:38Now, for an update on today's stories.

0:27:40 > 0:27:43Following the burglary in Essex, Janice and Stephen

0:27:43 > 0:27:46listened to police advice on improving home security.

0:27:48 > 0:27:50The case remains unsolved.

0:27:50 > 0:27:53It could have been worse. Could have been a lot worse.

0:27:53 > 0:27:55Police! Anthony...

0:27:55 > 0:27:59After the raid in Yorkshire, the two women were released without charge.

0:27:59 > 0:28:03Anthony Wragg and Pete Fearn pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods

0:28:03 > 0:28:08and were each sentenced to six years in prison for their crimes.

0:28:08 > 0:28:10That's all from us today, we'll see you next time.

0:28:14 > 0:28:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd