0:00:00 > 0:00:05Between now and the end of this programme, 40 homes will be burgled.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Coming up:
0:00:06 > 0:00:10There's only that gone. I mean, there's another one there.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12- So it's just a bit strange.- Yeah.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14We're with the police as they hunt down criminals...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Police officers from Hertfordshire.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20"If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime," is what we say.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22..and we'll show you how much it means
0:00:22 > 0:00:25when stolen goods are reunited with their rightful owner.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28A bit of a lump in my throat.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I couldn't really get round the words but, yeah,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33it was absolutely fantastic. Lovely.
0:00:41 > 0:00:437am in Hertfordshire.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46It's just before Christmas,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50and Essex and Hertfordshire Police have joined forces, hoping to clear
0:00:50 > 0:00:54their books and Christmas tree of some of their most prolific burglars.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Today they are carrying out five separate raids,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02hoping to arrest four different criminals linked to
0:01:02 > 0:01:05over 100 burglaries and car thefts.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Running the operation is Detective Sergeant Jason Rusbridge.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13He's been on the force for 16-and-a-half years.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Firstly, if I can just thank you all for coming.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19I know it's a bit of a pain getting up early doors, but hopefully the
0:01:19 > 0:01:2318 quid I spent on apple turnovers may offset that for you a little bit.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26This is Operation... I'm going to say "Argue-fy".
0:01:26 > 0:01:29For anybody linguistically who wants to correct me, could be
0:01:29 > 0:01:34"Argo-fee" or "Are-guffy," I prefer Argufy cos it sounds slightly better.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37The intention is to recover items of stolen property
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and to gather evidence to support a successful prosecution
0:01:40 > 0:01:43for the offences of theft, burglary and possession of criminal property.
0:01:43 > 0:01:49If there's any problems, come and see me in the Scorpion office. Thank you.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54The officers split into teams. Team one is led by PC Owen Davies.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Heading up Team two is PC Phil Rosier.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03The four suspects on today's list are well-known to the police.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06By arresting them as soon as possible, hopefully the usual spike
0:02:06 > 0:02:10in burglary over the Christmas period will be reduced.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14In the run-up to Christmas, it's good for the police to send a message
0:02:14 > 0:02:16to individuals who are involved in those offences, say that,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20"We are going to relentlessly pursue you, and we will come knocking for you.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23"And if that means that you spend a bit of time in prison over
0:02:23 > 0:02:24"Christmas, then so be it."
0:02:24 > 0:02:28"If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime," is what we say.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30We'll go to the address, we'll attempt a consensual entry,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34ie we'll knock without trying to cause any damage in the first instance.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36If, however, we can't get into the address,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39people frustrate entry or deny us entry to the property,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43because we have the back-up of the warrant it does allow for a power of entry
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and we will be going through the door one way or the other.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53It's nice and early in the day.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Our offenders tend to do their business later in the afternoon
0:02:56 > 0:02:59or overnight so hopefully, yeah, should be tucked up in bed.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Both teams are off to houses in Essex.
0:03:09 > 0:03:10Shut it down.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Owen's team arrive at the property, known to contain several bedsits.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Good morning, PC 9719 Davison, part of Hertfordshire Police,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Operation Scorpion team.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- We've a warrant from North and East Herts Magistrates to search these premises.- OK.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Guys, if we can go through and just secure the property,
0:03:36 > 0:03:37secure any persons inside.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Because the warrant covers the whole address,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47what we have to do is basically rouse everybody, because it does cover entry to
0:03:47 > 0:03:51rooms this side of the building. Don't have to force entry unnecessarily,
0:03:51 > 0:03:52so we'll try and get everybody up,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55get them into one room where we can explain what's occurring.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Meanwhile, Phil's team have other concerns.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02DOG BARKS
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Sounds friendly(!)
0:04:04 > 0:04:05DOG CONTINUES BARKING
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- Morning!- Morning. Police officers from Hertfordshire.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Is he out the way?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Hello! How you doing?
0:04:18 > 0:04:20How friendly is the dog? Is he all right?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22He's quite loud.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24How does he know I'm police?
0:04:24 > 0:04:27I'm not wearing uniform, am I, fella, so...?
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Back at the other raid, Owen and the team have rounded up
0:04:33 > 0:04:35the occupants, but the suspect isn't there.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39I do appreciate your cooperation in this,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I appreciate it is quite impactive on your life.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44It's for the whole address, not pointing the finger at any particular person.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46All your rooms will be searched, the whole property.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49If there is anything in your room that there shouldn't be,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51please disclose to us now before we find it.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Obviously it would be appreciated.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Any hazards, any sharps, anything like that?
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- No.- No? Nothing sharp, nothing pointed?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00There are some piercing needles in the top-left drawer.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Piercing needles in the top left drawer? That's it? Fine.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06When police do a search, they have to be careful in case
0:05:06 > 0:05:09they come across something that could injure or endanger them.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13He says they're sealed up,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16but obviously don't want to come across them.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Just lift this out to get a bit of space to see what we're doing.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22We may find other things
0:05:22 > 0:05:25or previously-used needles around here, so just got to be
0:05:25 > 0:05:29careful on that front, make sure we don't put ourselves at risk.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34In another room, one of the team have uncovered a large amount
0:05:34 > 0:05:37of electrical items, and something you wouldn't
0:05:37 > 0:05:41necessarily expect to find in a bedroom - a cutting tool.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46At the other raid, there's no sign of their suspect, either.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Phil and the team have begun to search the house.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53We are looking for stolen property involved in burglaries,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56so generally when we're looking here it's for anything, you know,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00high-value - electrical items, stuff like that - that's normally taken.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Anything that we can identify with serial numbers and things like that.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09The team know that burglars will go to any lengths to hide property,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12and experience has taught them to leave no stone unturned.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16We'll just check the windowsills,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18cos a lot of criminals are sort of...
0:06:21 > 0:06:23..quite switched on into rooms searches.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28And they use it a lot in prisons, they hang contraband out
0:06:28 > 0:06:32the windows, so it's always worth a search underneath windowsills.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37And quite often there's crevices and stuff, so it's always worth a look.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Meanwhile, Owen has found something of interest.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- What is that?- It's your receipt for ordering a large set of bolt cutters,
0:06:47 > 0:06:4836-inch bolt cutters.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53Someone gave me the money and goes, "Can you get some bolt cutters?"
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The police want to know why he would be buying bolt cutters
0:06:55 > 0:06:57for a known offender.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02He doesn't have any real need for bolt cutters, other than chopping bolts
0:07:02 > 0:07:03off things he shouldn't do, does he?
0:07:03 > 0:07:08It seems the man has bought the bolt cutters for the suspect.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Take it from there, it's a warning shot across the boughs, maybe.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Both teams have finished their searches.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20There's no stolen property, and everything is accounted for.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Definitely haven't got anything.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25It went reasonably smoothly, encountered no real problems.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Obviously when you're dealing with multi-occupancy buildings
0:07:29 > 0:07:33there can be issues around gaining access to certain rooms etc,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36and obviously avoided causing any damage there in order to gain entry
0:07:36 > 0:07:39to those premises, so quite pleased with how that's gone.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Back at the station, another team has had a bit more luck.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51They've arrested a man and seized a large amount of property.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58At the address, we have found items such as large screen flat TVs,
0:07:58 > 0:08:03iPads, PlayStation consoles and jewellery.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05We're inquiring at the moment to see
0:08:05 > 0:08:08whether they could be identified by the owners and we can take them
0:08:08 > 0:08:11back and give them back to them, hopefully.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14The suspect has no previous police record
0:08:14 > 0:08:18and isn't one of the four prolific burglars, so the officers take
0:08:18 > 0:08:22fingerprints and shoeprints to add to the nationwide police database.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26They are not the only samples they take.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30This is a DNA swab of everyone that comes into custody.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33It's literally two swabs inside the mouth,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36so we get their DNA from them so it gets checked against any
0:08:36 > 0:08:40sort of outstanding inquiries - burglaries, theft of motor vehicles.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Just open your mouth, I'll swab inside.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53With one suspect in custody and a number of leads, it's been
0:08:53 > 0:08:57a successful morning of raids for Hertfordshire and Essex Police.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It's always nice to get a result when you get out onto the ground.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It keeps all the troops nice and happy as well and, for me,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07it's been a really successful day.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16It's not just the police that go the extra mile to try
0:09:16 > 0:09:18and track down our stolen property.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22People go to extraordinary lengths to get back their treasured possessions.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Especially when it's the family pet.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Market Rasen in Lincolnshire is a historic Georgian town,
0:09:33 > 0:09:37and is home to Ron Brocklesby and his six dogs.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41We've got four Labradors and they are prolific gundogs, really.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45The two yellow ones, Tank and his brother, they don't work now
0:09:45 > 0:09:48because they are past it, but the two black ones have taken over.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53That's Leroy and Freddie. They're pretty boisterous.
0:09:53 > 0:09:54Rather good fun, aren't you, Fred?
0:09:54 > 0:09:56And then the whippet's just a little bit of a...
0:09:56 > 0:09:58well, I'm hoping he's going to ride with me
0:09:58 > 0:10:01when I go out with the ponies and that, you know? Run alongside me.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04And the terrier, well, she just does a little bit of ratting.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It keeps rats down from the chickens, really.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Ron's a country boy through and through.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Come on!
0:10:13 > 0:10:17A life with animals is in his blood. It's all he's ever known.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21They're just part of my life, really. That's what I do.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24I love getting up in the morning, and the first thing,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27the dogs come out and they're all here wagging their tails at you.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28And that's life, really.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31That's country life for me, and that's good enough.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33Come and help yourself. Here, boy!
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Tank and his brother Butch are the oldest dogs.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40They're 14 now, and have lived with Ron since they were puppies.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Tank is a big, daft lad.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47He really is a lovely-natured dog,
0:10:47 > 0:10:49not an ounce of aggression in him whatsoever.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53He's got a rather big head and a big body and lots of skin.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57When he looks down, the skin tends to come right past his face.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Whereas his brother is a lot finer, and a lot thinner and a lot faster.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06But Tank was always there bringing the rear up.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08And the reason I called him Tank was, when he was a pup,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12instead of going round something - a hedge or whatever it was -
0:11:12 > 0:11:16he would go straight through it. And that stood from when he was a pup.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Tank means the world to me. He always has done,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and the rest of the dogs do as well.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26But Tank's just a little bit different. He's just lovely.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Tank's Tank, and he does what he wants to do in his own time, really.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36When Ron is out and about, all the dogs go with him.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39They keep him company throughout the day.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43I always leave Tank in the van at teatime, but I normally feed Tank
0:11:43 > 0:11:47in the van because he tends to get bullied a little bit.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Even though he's a big dog, he's old and a bit frail now,
0:11:49 > 0:11:50and they tend to knock him about a bit.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So what I do, I just tend to leave him inside
0:11:53 > 0:11:56with the side door of the van ajar, so he can get out if he wants to,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and it just gives him chance to enjoy his tea on his own.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01It's late on Monday afternoon,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04and Ron has just got back from walking the dogs.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Come on, Tank!
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Good boy! Well done!
0:12:07 > 0:12:11And, as usual, while the other dogs eat their dinner in the yard,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Tank is having his in the back of the van.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16There you go.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I came in, then went out a couple of times to make sure they was all right
0:12:19 > 0:12:22and they was finishing their teas and that sort of thing.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30He tends to eat a little bit and then he goes to sleep a little bit,
0:12:30 > 0:12:34then Tank will wake up and have a bit more, and then he goes back to sleep again.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Unbeknown to Ron, whilst he's checking on his beloved dogs,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41thieves appear to have their eye on his van.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Maybe just gone, maybe, eight o'clock time,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I felt I better just go check, see if he's all right.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Pull the door back a bit, see if he was OK. He'd had a little bit of tea.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Ron goes back inside.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04But this is the moment the thieves have been waiting for.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Within minutes, they let themselves into the yard
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and steal the van, with Tank still in the back.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12I sat down, had a bit of television,
0:13:12 > 0:13:18and then went outside and couldn't believe my eyes, the van had gone.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26The van had gone. I thought, "Crikey. Tank's in the back."
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Immediately, Ron calls the police.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34They arrive in minutes and take down all the details of the van
0:13:34 > 0:13:36and a description of Tank.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38But there isn't much more they can do that night.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43I was just worried about, you know, never seeing him again, really.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45And I didn't sleep a wink that night.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Ron wasn't the only one who was left distraught by the loss of Tank.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52So was Butch, his brother.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Tank and Butch are inseparable, really.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59And the night he got stolen was horrific for the other one,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01because they sleep together.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04And that's the first time they've ever been parted in their whole life.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09And Tank, really, he supplies the warmth, you know,
0:14:09 > 0:14:10because he's rather a big dog.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14And they just cuddle up together, and that's it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18And with Tank being an elderly and poorly dog,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Ron was starting to fear the worst for his old friend.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23It was horrendous. It was.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27And if they've got a heart, they might just find him
0:14:27 > 0:14:28and bring him back.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31You never know. You hope for these sort of things.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32Tank!
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Tank!
0:14:37 > 0:14:41A heartbreaking story. But, later, there is a glimmer of hope.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Driving along the main road, turning into where I live,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48there was a dog coming out onto the main road.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Maltby in Yorkshire.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57There's been a recent spate of burglaries in the area.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02PCs Adam Broughton and Alex Dorlin
0:15:02 > 0:15:04respond to another call that's just come in.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20We're going to an address in Maltby.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24The gentleman's gone out between 7pm and 11pm last night,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28says that a laptop's gone missing between those times.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30When we get there, we'll assess the scene, see what evidence we've got -
0:15:30 > 0:15:33any witnesses, CCTV, forensics.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36The usual thing.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Adam joined South Yorkshire Police in 2004 because he wanted to help hard-working people
0:15:41 > 0:15:45who are victims of crime. And that's exactly what he's going to do today.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52Ten minutes later, Adam and Alex arrive at the home of Jeffrey Coates.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53There's only that gone.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58And, I mean, there's another one there, that's my ex-partner's, right?
0:15:58 > 0:16:02- There's drills there.- Yeah.- Right?
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- There's snooker cues upstairs that's valuable.- Yeah.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08And if it's somebody who's known my house, they'd have took them.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- So it's just a bit strange.- Yeah.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It soon becomes clear that this burglary doesn't seem
0:16:14 > 0:16:18to fit the pattern of others that have been happening in the same area.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Surprisingly, the thief has only taken a laptop
0:16:22 > 0:16:24and has left behind lots of other items.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28They'd walked past another laptop, walked past two drills
0:16:28 > 0:16:30that's down there, like.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32A gold chain and a phone were just above,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36on the same desk as the laptop were. They've not touched owt else.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38That's it, gone. Weird.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43But, upstairs, Jeffrey has spotted something
0:16:43 > 0:16:47that could prove a valuable clue to identifying the thief...
0:16:48 > 0:16:52There's a footprint in there.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54..Muddy shoe prints in the bath.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Adam's experienced eye quickly establishes a theory
0:16:59 > 0:17:00as to how the thief got in.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07How far does that window open, is that fully? Don't touch it for now.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- Does it go wider than that, is what I'm saying?- Yeah.- OK.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16It would appear that the burglar entered Jeffrey's house
0:17:16 > 0:17:18through the small bathroom window.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21No mean feat, especially as it's on the first floor.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25It's a tight window to get through, ain't it?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30There is a drainpipe leading up to the window,
0:17:30 > 0:17:34making it possible, but extremely difficult, to get in.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38If they've climbed through there, there should be marks where they've pulled theirself in.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39Actually, just looking at it,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I don't know if there's scuff marks on the drainpipe here?
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Can you see that?
0:17:46 > 0:17:48See the black marks? The scuff marks of someone's trainer soles,
0:17:48 > 0:17:49or something like that.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53It's a possibility that's how they've got in.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Probably skinny, as well, to get through that window.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Clambering up a drainpipe and climbing through a small window
0:18:00 > 0:18:03seems a lot of effort to go through to steal just one laptop.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10That window there, that bathroom window is the only window...
0:18:10 > 0:18:11That's the only window that were open.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15It's not a new laptop. It's about five year old.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Is there anything sensitive on it?
0:18:17 > 0:18:19No. It's weird.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Whilst Adam takes his statement, Alex goes on the hunt
0:18:27 > 0:18:30for any other leads that could help solve this unusual case.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36I'm just going to knock on these houses down here.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I think a lot of them are shops, but there might be flats.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42At the back of the sort of shops and houses,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44it backs onto the scene of the crime where we think
0:18:44 > 0:18:47the point of entry is, up the drainpipe, the bathroom window.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So I'm going to knock and just see if anyone saw anyone knocking about
0:18:50 > 0:18:52in their gardens etc last night.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Have you got the serial number to hand?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56I know you said it's quite old, so you probably haven't.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- I haven't, kid.- Was there anything else disturbed in the house?
0:19:00 > 0:19:01Not a thing, kid.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04The guy went out about 7pm, got back about 11pm.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08And it was this morning he's noticed his laptop's missing from the house.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11- So I'm just wondering if you'd seen or heard owt last night, anything suspicious?- No.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15It's not the value of the laptop, it's just knowing that somebody's...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- Been in your house.- And weird that they've only took that.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20I find it strange that they've gone upstairs...
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Well, they've gone to that effort, for a start...- Yeah.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26..but they've gone straight in and took that
0:19:26 > 0:19:28without searching anywhere else or...
0:19:28 > 0:19:32It's not a valuable laptop.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Anybody... They'd only have to look at it and see that it's not a...
0:19:36 > 0:19:38It's not half as good as that one that were there.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41End of the day, just looking here, straightaway,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44your TV is probably worth more than the laptop, ain't it?
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Well, yeah, it is. Even the one upstairs is.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I'm only thankful they haven't touched owt that's sentimental.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51For Adam and Alex,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54this is one of the strangest burglaries they've seen.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58But they do have a solid piece of evidence to go on.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00They've not searched anywhere, they've not taken any other property,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02there's no damage to anything.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It's just strange that they've gone straight to the laptop.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08We've got forensics travelling to have a look.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11There is obvious signs, someone stood in the bath with
0:20:11 > 0:20:13a muddy footprint.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17For Jeffrey, there's something positive to take from the situation.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21As far as the police are concerned, I'm happy. They've done a good job.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And, from now on, Jeffrey will never leave the house with
0:20:24 > 0:20:28any windows open - even small bathroom windows on the first floor.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Ron Brocklesby lives in Market Rasen with his six dogs.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43But, one night, thieves stole his van with his oldest dog, Tank,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45asleep in the back.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51Not a real big man for words, but it was horrendous.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54You're looking at the clock every minute and hoping that, somewhere,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57that that van might have gone through a camera
0:20:57 > 0:21:00and alerted the police that it had been stolen.
0:21:01 > 0:21:02But, no, none of that happened at all.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Desperate to find his beloved dog,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Ron phoned his local radio station to get the word out.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13He did an interview for his local paper,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16and then his sister-in-law suggested he get in touch with
0:21:16 > 0:21:20a voluntary organisation that specialises in finding missing dogs.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Local helpers were encouraged to help as much as possible in
0:21:26 > 0:21:30postering the area, and also spreading the word on social network sites.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34There was an amazing response.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Very quickly, people started to comment on Tank's page on
0:21:37 > 0:21:41the internet, telling Ron what they'd been doing to try and find him.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Lots of good wishes, spreading the word about the vehicle
0:21:44 > 0:21:47that Tank has been stolen in.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Coordinators checking the reports of found dogs to see if they matched
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Tank's description, to see if they are Tank.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58But even with so many people searching, three days passed
0:21:58 > 0:22:01and there wasn't a single sighting of Tank or the van.
0:22:07 > 0:22:1130 miles away, Kate McDonald was driving home from work.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Driving along the main road, turning into where I live.
0:22:17 > 0:22:23There was a dog coming out onto the main road, limping on his left leg.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Kate pulled over and picked up the dog.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29He was in a terrible state, cold and starving.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Waited around about five, ten minutes.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36No-one came to pick him up, so I brought him back to work
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and we kept him here for a while and gave him some food,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42water and let him sleep for about three hours.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45As soon as you got back, I took him down to the local vet and had
0:22:45 > 0:22:49him scanned for microchips, one thing and another, just checked over.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51But the dog wasn't microchipped.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56It meant Kate and Andrew had no idea who he was or where his owner lived.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01By 2016, all dogs in Britain will have to be microchipped.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The chips contain a unique code which can be scanned
0:23:04 > 0:23:05if a pet is lost or stolen
0:23:05 > 0:23:08and then immediately matched to the owner's contact details.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14My partner came down, Emma, and she took a few photos of him.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17She went back home and put a picture of him
0:23:17 > 0:23:19on that Facebook site.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Within hours, message after message.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25I think you had about 100 replies, didn't you?
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Had around about 100 replies off people.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32A couple of local people had put a link on to Lincolnshire Police
0:23:32 > 0:23:36with a picture of Tank and a phone number for Crimestoppers
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and a phone number for the owner.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41So I then rang the owner up, didn't I?
0:23:46 > 0:23:51The chap rung and he said, "The people I work for,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54"she found a Labrador dog this morning on the main Misterton road.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56"Can you describe him?"
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I said, "Yeah, he's a big lad, he's got quite a few
0:23:58 > 0:24:02"scars on his face from over the years," and that sort of thing.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06I says, "He's got quite a big callus on his left leg, on his knuckle."
0:24:06 > 0:24:10He said, "You'd better come and pick your boy up," he said. "He's here."
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- And then he was silent, wasn't he?- Silent.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Silent for a good 30 seconds, a minute.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18He'd got it in his mind that he was never going to see his dog again.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21And that phone call, I don't think...
0:24:21 > 0:24:24I don't think he'll ever forget that phone call, will he?
0:24:24 > 0:24:25No, no. Definitely not.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Tank had been found,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35but unfortunately his three-day ordeal had left its scars.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38"He's been in a bit of a poor condition, but," he says,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42"we've fed him up, we cooked him some liver and put him near the fire."
0:24:42 > 0:24:46I said, "He's never had liver all his life with me," you know?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49And it was, oh, dear. I come off the phone and I just broke down, like.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I didn't...
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It's a bit heart-wrenching, ain't it? Well, it is for me, anyway.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Finally, his wait was over.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Ron packed his five other dogs into the car and drove over to
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Kate and Andrew's garage to bring Tank home.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10I opened the door, and that was it, really.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12My heart was going 55 to the dozen.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Bit of a lump in my throat and I couldn't really
0:25:20 > 0:25:23get round the words but, yeah, it was absolutely fantastic.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24Lovely.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34When the news came through, people were jumping out of showers,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36saying, "We've been waiting for the news!
0:25:36 > 0:25:39"We've been waiting to see Tank reunited!"
0:25:39 > 0:25:44Everyone, even people who didn't know Tank, were absolutely
0:25:44 > 0:25:48overjoyed that this old dog could be reunited, not only with Ron,
0:25:48 > 0:25:53but with his sibling, brother, who'd been pining for him, as well.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56It would bring a tear to your eye. It would. It really would.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58It's just nice that someone thinks
0:25:58 > 0:26:02so much of their dog to go to all that trouble to try and find him.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- It was a really nice story, wasn't it?- It were, yeah.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10And, for Ron, it was a welcome end to a painful three days.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11To me, he's one of the kids, like, you know?
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I mean, I've got no children and I live on my own,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16so they are part and parcel of what I do, really.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18And it's a big thing
0:26:18 > 0:26:21when one is lost or something goes wrong with one of them.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I can't describe it, really. It's just...
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Well, brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I missed you, boy! It's good to have you back! It is.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Good to have you back. Back where you belong.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40There's just time for an update on today's cases.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45In Maltby, the police still haven't found the thief who burgled
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Jeffrey's home, but he's reassured by the hard work
0:26:48 > 0:26:51of PCs Adam Broughton and Alex Dorlin.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Their attitude was brilliant. I can't fault the lads.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58What they did, what they said and what they checked over.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Overall, I can't fault them.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05In Essex, no stolen property was found in the raids
0:27:05 > 0:27:08conducted by PCs Phil Rosier and Owen Davis.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13The suspect who was arrested received a caution
0:27:13 > 0:27:15for possessing criminal property.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19And, for DS Jason Rusbridge, the message for burglars is clear.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24We will always continue with relentlessly pursuing burglars.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26It's been great that Essex have come on board.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Some of the offenders living on their ground impacting on ours.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32It blights lives in both areas, so Essex will be pleased
0:27:32 > 0:27:35with their result and we're very pleased with ours.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39In the case where thieves stole a van with Tank the dog asleep in the back,
0:27:39 > 0:27:44the van was never recovered, and the thieves haven't been found.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47But for Tank's owner Ron, none of that matters.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51The van can be replaced, which it has been, and the dog can't. So...
0:27:51 > 0:27:52That's all I was bothered about.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55That's all from us today. We'll see you next time.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd