0:00:02 > 0:00:05that affects 1.5 million of us every year.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Burglary.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Coming up...
0:00:08 > 0:00:12- Having someone come in your house is very upsetting.- Yeah.
0:00:12 > 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 > 0:00:19Police officers - open the door!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24And we'll see the joy when what's been stolen
0:00:24 > 0:00:27has been returned to its rightful owner.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It was the most amazing feeling ever. Yeah. Fantastic!
0:00:40 > 0:00:41First up, we're in Yorkshire.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45It's 9am, PC Phill Connell
0:00:45 > 0:00:49and a team of five officers are on the way to raid a flat,
0:00:49 > 0:00:51after receiving an anonymous tip-off.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55We're going to an address just short of Rotherham Police Station,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57in the Masbrough area.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59We've got a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act,
0:00:59 > 0:01:00to search a premises there.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Someone whose intelligence has been received
0:01:03 > 0:01:05is dealing drugs in the local area.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Phill's dad was also a police constable,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11so he grew up wanting to follow in his footsteps.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14He's been in the police himself for 23 years
0:01:14 > 0:01:17so today's mission is all too familiar.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20People are subject to burglaries.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Their property, a lot of the time, ends up in these people's hands
0:01:23 > 0:01:26as payment for the drugs
0:01:26 > 0:01:30because they've not got cash. And you can end up with a circle
0:01:30 > 0:01:34where people are obviously committing crime to fund a drugs habit.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39And in order to fund that, they're selling these items on.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45We're here.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48The element of surprise is crucial because Phill and the team
0:01:48 > 0:01:51don't want the suspect to know they're coming.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52You've got warrants, haven't you?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54One team cover the back of the building,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57whilst DC Phil Wyer breaks down the door.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00LOUD BANGING
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Whilst Phill is attempting to get into the house, the suspect
0:02:08 > 0:02:11hears all the noise and comes to the door.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Open it up then!
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Quickly or it's going in.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Police officers with a drugs warrant. Open the door!
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- They'll take all day, these.- Yeah.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- FROM INSIDE:- Don't smash it in.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Open the door then, now.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- Have you got a key? - I'll open the door.- Go on then.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Open it then, and we'll stop hitting it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- FROM INSIDE:- Open the door, open the door.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43The suspect tries to open the door from the inside but has no luck.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Pass us the key.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's locked now. We're going to have to bash it in regardless.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Who's in there with you?
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- Me and my girlfriend.- Right.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Come to the kitchen window and put the blind up
0:03:02 > 0:03:05so we can see you standing there while we put the door in,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07because we have no option now.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09The lock has seized,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13so Phill has to enter the flat through the kitchen window.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18No, the lock's gone.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20- FROM INSIDE:- You've probably smashed the lock and it's stuck.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26We'll have to use the window, Phil.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Right, we're in possession of a drugs warrant, matey, all right?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33With no joy opening the front door,
0:03:33 > 0:03:38the whole team have no choice but to enter through the window too.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40With the suspect detained,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43the search for stolen property and drugs begins.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Phill believes the suspect has tried to flush evidence down the toilet,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54whilst the team were trying to gain entry.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56I need to get my hand down this bog, it's blocked.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58He's tried to tip a load of stuff down.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02I need a rubber glove to get my hand down the toilet.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06As the team continue their search and uncover evidence of drug use,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Phill is left with the unpleasant task
0:04:08 > 0:04:11of establishing exactly what is down the toilet.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Having been with the Underwater Search Unit for 10 years,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Phill is used to recovering items
0:04:18 > 0:04:21from places like sewage tanks and drains.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24But this doesn't make the job any more pleasant.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Not a nice part of the job, Phill.- No, not nice at all.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34As you can see, it's blocked for some reason or another.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40We'll go outside and see if there's a manhole.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Get it, have a look and see what's down there.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Whilst Phill's day has taken a turn for the worst,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51DS John Dimberline has uncovered something of interest.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54We've had some intel that property's been stolen
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and has been brought here, potentially handling stolen goods.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59What we've done is
0:04:59 > 0:05:02we've done a search and found an identical jacket.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05It's down to the complainant now to see if he can identify it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Former hairdresser Phill will not be defeated by the blockage.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14I'm going to try and clear this blockage, yeah?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Right, it's gone. It's obvious on us getting in,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19because he's had time to get into the toilet,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22there's been drugs paraphernalia tipped down the toilet.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25On getting in, the toilet's actually blocked with it,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28so it's not managed to get flushed.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30So we've lifted a drain outside, a drain cover,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32capped that off so nothing can go anywhere
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and cleared the blockage here.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36So whatever's been blocking the toilet
0:05:36 > 0:05:39should be dammed outside now that's come from here.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Phill has to examine the contents of the manhole
0:05:43 > 0:05:46for any evidence the suspect might have tried to flush away.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57No, negative.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59TAPS STICK
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Worth a try.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- I'll do away with the dam then. - Here.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15All for nothing. But if you don't try you don't get.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Because they've had such a good tip-off,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Phill and the team are determined to leave no stone unturned.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24And soon their hard work pays off.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25It's a wrap of something.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I don't want to undo it because it's obviously going to go there.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31That's just under this kick plinth under here.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35There's a kick plinth under the cupboard here.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36It seemed a bit loose, pulled it,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39it's come off and there's all this paraphernalia underneath
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and various other little wraps of powder
0:06:42 > 0:06:46which we suspect could be illegal drugs.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Getting all the good jobs today(!)
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Did you say something wrong?
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I think I must have done something wrong this morning.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Put my hand under a cupboard and down a toilet!
0:07:03 > 0:07:07The team is on the lookout for some specific items which were
0:07:07 > 0:07:11stolen from a nearby church, including a stereo system.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13And John thinks he might have spotted it.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- You know the Sony stereo that we've got.- Yeah.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- Is that one from the church as well or is it from a different job?- Yeah.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- So the Sony's from the church.- Yeah.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25It's been stipulated as a Sony system like that,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and it's actually come out of a cabinet in the church.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Looking at that one, it's got an after market still...
0:07:32 > 0:07:33sort of banding round it.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36It's not like something you would get at home.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40It's inside something that looks like it's been made to go in a cabinet.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42With that in mind, I think it needs to come in.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45We need to get it checked out.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Also during the break in at the church,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51some raffle prizes were stolen, including some alcohol.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53We're hoping it's...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55We might have information that's come from another job
0:07:55 > 0:07:58where this raffle prize has been taken,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01so we're hoping it might be from there.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05It's just an unusual tipple to have four bottles of port in your kitchen.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07We've got four weeks to Christmas, so it's a bit early for port.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14One of them's undone, love. Cork's in it but try and keep them upright.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16With the search complete,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20the suspect will now be taken back to the station for questioning.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Can I just shut my blinds an' that, cos I don't want it open?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Can you shut blinds and windows, please?
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Cos young 'uns look through window
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and the telly'll be gone before I get back.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- Aye, some thieves about. - It is on this estate.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Phill, John and the team have seized property that could be stolen -
0:08:39 > 0:08:42class A and B drugs, and drugs paraphernalia.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47It will all be taken back to Maltby Police Station to be processed
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and checked against police records.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53There's a lot of evidence to go through,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57but one thing's clear, PC Phill Connell took one for the team today.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00That was quite an exceptional circumstance and there's not
0:09:00 > 0:09:03many people would resort to the lengths that Phill went to.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05But he's trained in body recovery
0:09:05 > 0:09:10and he's obviously encountered worse scenarios that that, unbelievably.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11But we were all cringing.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I think out of the people that were present,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Phill's the only one that would probably be willing
0:09:15 > 0:09:17to go to those lengths and do what he did.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Everybody kept their distance from him for the rest of the day!
0:09:21 > 0:09:23It's not just police that go the extra mile
0:09:23 > 0:09:26to try and track down our stolen property.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28People also go to extraordinary lengths
0:09:28 > 0:09:30to get back their treasured possessions,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32especially when it's the family pet.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38This is Edenbridge in Kent.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Lorraine Deakins lives with her husband, their two children,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Ellen, who's nine and Henry, who's six and their dog, Lily,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49a cavalier King Charles spaniel and the fifth member of their family.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52DOG BARKS
0:09:52 > 0:09:55She's very fluffy and licky!
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Cavaliers are generally just really lovely, really gentle dogs.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00She was perfect with the children.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04In June 2010, the Deakins were busy at home.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08It was just one day before Lily's first birthday.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10I was gardening in the front garden
0:10:10 > 0:10:13and she was literally up at the window watching me.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17I needed to go to the garden centre, so I went in to get her and she...
0:10:17 > 0:10:19she'd just vanished.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Lorraine began to worry.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Lily! Lily!
0:10:27 > 0:10:28Lily!
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I searched all round the garden, all round next door's garden.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34All in the house.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Lily was nowhere to be seen.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40It was becoming clear that someone else had been in the garden.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43I think they may have come in from over that way.
0:10:43 > 0:10:49She couldn't jump out but someone could easily reach in and take her.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51We didn't think she'd just run off
0:10:51 > 0:10:53because I was literally in the front garden.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56If she'd run away, I would have seen her run past.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02So it was quite obvious that she'd been taken from the back garden.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Lily had been stolen.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Immediately, Lorraine contacted the authorities.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Lily had been microchipped as a puppy, so if she was found,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15she could easily be identified.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19By law, if someone finds a dog they've got to ring the dog warden,
0:11:19 > 0:11:20so I rang the dog warden.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Because it was a Friday evening, there was no out-of-hours number,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25so I had to leave a message.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30And then literally we all just split up and went out searching
0:11:30 > 0:11:33till late at night, but there was nothing.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36It felt like a real personal attack.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Unless you're a dog lover, an animal lover,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42you never know how bad it is until it happens.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46With Lily gone, Lorraine was left
0:11:46 > 0:11:49with the heartbreaking challenge of telling her children.
0:11:49 > 0:11:56When the children found out that Lily had gone, they were devastated.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58When Lily left, we cried
0:11:58 > 0:12:05because we missed her and it was really sad and horrible.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07As far as they're concerned,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10they know that people shouldn't take other people's things,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12and as soon as Lily had gone...
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Just inconsolable the whole time, basically.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Even though it seemed there was little hope of finding Lily,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Lorraine refused to give up.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31I'd promised the kids that I would get her back,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33so I couldn't break that promise.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37She contacted charities specialising in finding missing dogs
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and created an internet campaign
0:12:39 > 0:12:43to raise public awareness of their missing pet.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47My mum made a video, and it was really sad,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50so people would help her to find Lily.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54The video was posted on a popular website
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and received over 7,000 views.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01The internet is proving a valuable tool to help find missing
0:13:01 > 0:13:02and stolen animals.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05But no-one came forward with any information.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14Six months passed and Lily still hadn't been found.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19The Christmas after Lily went missing, Henry, who's three,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21put Lily on his list to Santa.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25And when he came down Christmas morning,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27trying to explain to a three-year-old
0:13:27 > 0:13:29why his dog wasn't back...
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Sorry.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36SHE SOBS
0:13:37 > 0:13:39It was devastating.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50He came down in the morning and said, "Mummy, why isn't Lily back?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52"Does Father Christmas think I've been bad?"
0:14:00 > 0:14:02SHE SNIFFS
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Yeah, there's nothing you can say to that.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10I just said that maybe Father Christmas just couldn't find her
0:14:10 > 0:14:12because she was hiding so well.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21A heartbreaking story, but there is a glimmer of hope.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Next, to Hertfordshire, where there has been a spate of burglaries
0:14:24 > 0:14:26targeting jewellery and precious metal.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Barry and Theresa Cohen had been enjoying some winter sun
0:14:50 > 0:14:55in Thailand and arrived back to England to a nasty shock.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Our son picked us up and brought all the cases in.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59My wife looked in the bedroom
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and realised that the place had been ransacked.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14We slowly went round the house and found everything.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19Uniformed officers have already visited and secured the home.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21DC Paul Wadsworth from St Albans
0:15:21 > 0:15:23arrives to continue the investigation.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Paul's been in the police for seven years
0:15:27 > 0:15:30and joined St Albans CID a year ago.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- Sorry, I thought... - Mrs Cohen, hello.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I'm Paul. I'm from St Albans Police Station. How are you?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Sorry, I'm in a totally different time zone,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- so I've literally only had two hours' sleep.- Right.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Can you show me around where you think they've come in
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- and the rooms that they've been into? - Right.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Paul conducts a thorough search of the home,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56whilst a scenes of crime officer collects crucial forensic evidence.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Any small clue could crack the case.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03They forced this window open.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08When it is open, even you wouldn't have been able to get through it.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13They took four watches of mine, none of which totalled probably
0:16:13 > 0:16:17more than 500 quid for the four of them, if that.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I've got a good watch which is a diamond faced watch,
0:16:20 > 0:16:21they never took that.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24They've left that thinking it's obviously not a good one
0:16:24 > 0:16:25but that was the good one.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28They took my silver candlesticks.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- They're heirlooms, aren't they?- Yes.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33In their quest for precious metal,
0:16:33 > 0:16:38the burglars have stolen some irreplaceable family treasures.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43That's me and my husband and my mother, who's now deceased.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46The silver candlesticks, I bought for my mother and father
0:16:46 > 0:16:48for their 25th wedding anniversary.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51I'd not long started work, so it was the first thing
0:16:51 > 0:16:55that I'd actually bought from a pay packet.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58When my mother died, I inherited them back from her
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and she's been dead now for six years,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04so they were quite precious to me.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09She was a lovely lady, very lovely lady. Loved by all her family.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Even though they've gone through the whole house,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18the thieves seem to have left behind an obvious item of value.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24My handbag was downstairs all zipped up and they've bought it up here
0:17:24 > 0:17:28and unloaded everything up here but they've left everything in it.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31That was my first thought, that my credit card had gone.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35- You don't want to lose your M&S card.- Shut up!
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Having established what the thieves have taken,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Paul now needs to work out how they got into the back garden.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The infrared light sensor switch has been tampered with,
0:17:47 > 0:17:48so it's no longer working,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51which suggests it's happened overnight, because why would
0:17:51 > 0:17:55you want to tamper with a security light if it was daytime?
0:17:55 > 0:18:00It would appear that they've gained access from this garden.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04The fence, the top slat has been torn off from somebody climbing
0:18:04 > 0:18:06over the top.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10But, the jemmy mark here where the PVC has been targeted,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13they've got some sort of tool to jemmy open this window,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17used the chair and then climbed in onto the windowsill.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21They've left a trainer mark which our forensic people have lifted
0:18:21 > 0:18:25and there's some glove marks which have also been lifted from the frame.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27There aren't any fingerprints, unfortunately,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30because they were wearing gloves but we've got a trainer print
0:18:30 > 0:18:34which we can compare with people that have brought into custody.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36For Paul, this could prove to be a vital clue.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42They've come into here, through the window, obviously,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45and they've gone to the cabinet, they've opened the cabinets up
0:18:45 > 0:18:50and taken property, candlesticks, from the display cabinet there.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52It suggests that the jewellery
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and metals - precious metals - have been their target.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58It seems the Cohens' burglary
0:18:58 > 0:19:00fits the recent pattern where thieves target
0:19:00 > 0:19:03jewellery and precious metals that are easy to sell on.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Paul gives Barry and Theresa some sound advice
0:19:09 > 0:19:12that might help to trace their missing heirlooms.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14What would be a good idea is to look at websites just to see
0:19:14 > 0:19:17if somebody is trying to sell them, because, obviously,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20you know what they look like, you'll see them instantly.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21We'll do the same.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I was amazed that they didn't take the portable tellys.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28If they're on foot, then, you know, it's a big bulky thing,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30somebody walking out with a telly is a bit more noticeable
0:19:30 > 0:19:32than somebody with pockets full of jewellery.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Paul knows first-hand the emotional impact a burglary can have
0:19:38 > 0:19:41on victims like Barry and Theresa.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43At the end of the day, somebody has invaded their home.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It's where they live, it's where all their family come,
0:19:46 > 0:19:47so it is an invasion.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49It's one of the worst crimes that you can be a victim of,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51to be perfectly honest.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Having someone come in your house is very upsetting.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56It's quite frightening
0:19:56 > 0:20:00because although it is a very quiet road, it's also quite dark
0:20:00 > 0:20:05round here of a night, so now it's quite nerve-racking.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06They've lived here for 15 years
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and it's the first time they've been a victim of burglary
0:20:08 > 0:20:11whilst they've been living at this address, so it isn't very common.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14It's trying to reassure people that, a, it's not very common
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and to reassure them that the police take this matter very seriously,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19as we do in Hertfordshire.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25With his investigation of the Cohens' house complete,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Paul heads next door.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28- Hello, is it Alan?- It is.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Hello, my name is Paul,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32I'm a detective from St Albans police station.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- Are you aware your neighbours have been burgled?- What, next door?
0:20:35 > 0:20:36- Next door.- Oh, no.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38We think they might have come in from your garden.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It looks to me... You've got some fencing that's been damaged,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46so I'm guessing they've probably scaled your gate
0:20:46 > 0:20:50and popped into your back garden and then jumped over the other side.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54It's very unsettling to think that people can get in
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and around your property at any time.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Definitely will consider myself the lucky one,
0:20:59 > 0:21:00whereas my neighbours,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03unfortunately, have been the unlucky ones.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Even though the burglary is very distressing,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Barry and Theresa are still managing
0:21:08 > 0:21:11to look on the bright side.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13We've just found something else that they've taken.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Two old fishing reels. They're gone. I mean...
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It's just incredible, the things that they've actually taken
0:21:20 > 0:21:21and the things that they've left.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26The value of those items probably comes to about ten quid, maybe.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27THERESA LAUGHS
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Earlier, we saw how devastated the Deakins family were,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42when their dog Lily was stolen from their home in 2010.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46The worst thing about her missing the whole time was the not knowing,
0:21:46 > 0:21:51and I think that's the worst thing for all owners of lost dogs.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Almost two years had passed and there was still no news of Lily.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I was digging down on my allotment and my husband called me
0:22:01 > 0:22:03and he said, "I need to come and talk to you,"
0:22:03 > 0:22:06and I thought something awful had happened.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09He came down and he sent the kids off to play and he said,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12"I've just had a call from the dog warden.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13"They've found Lily."
0:22:15 > 0:22:17But the story was far from over.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Well, originally, she was found by a builder on a building site
0:22:21 > 0:22:25up in London and was taken into the local police station.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28That's when the search then begins for her owners
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and luckily enough she was micro-chipped.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35That chip then led to Dog Lost UK.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38They informed her owner, who was absolutely over the moon
0:22:38 > 0:22:39and ready to go and pick Lily up.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42For Lorraine and her family,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45this was the phone call they'd been hoping for.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48We'd been on a group online and told everyone.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Everyone was ecstatic, everyone was celebrating.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53'It was just amazing.'
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Right, I'm going to draw Lily, then.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59But things soon turned out to be far more complicated.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04By law, if a dog is picked up by a warden,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08or surrendered to the authorities, the dog must be held for seven days
0:23:08 > 0:23:11to allow for any potential owners to come forward.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16She was found groomed and well looked after,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18so she, to them, had new owners.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24This meant the Deakins faced an agonising seven days' wait in case
0:23:24 > 0:23:28anyone else reported her missing.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31But then, unfortunately, we had another owner come forward
0:23:31 > 0:23:34who had had Lily for the past 22 months,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and that's when we realised that we now had two people
0:23:37 > 0:23:39that were claiming ownership of Lily.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42This was an upsetting situation for both sets of owners.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46And that's when the Kent Police helped us.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49My inquiries then came into play
0:23:49 > 0:23:52with this potential owner up in London.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55And following my inquiries with her,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59I found out that the dog had actually been left with her
0:23:59 > 0:24:02quite a while back by somebody else
0:24:02 > 0:24:05who said that they would be back to pick her up.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07And they never did return to collect her.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Police believe the suspected thief moved abroad,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14leaving Lily behind in the care of some people
0:24:14 > 0:24:17who were unaware she was a stolen pet.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Because she had been missing for two years,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24the other owner had more of a right to her than we did.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25When I spoke to the lady in London,
0:24:25 > 0:24:29and she realised that Lily had been a stolen dog in the first place,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31and that there was rightful owners,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36she was more than happy to hand her back to the real owners.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40When I finally got that call, "You can go and get Lily now,"
0:24:40 > 0:24:42oh, it was just amazing.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46It took me half an hour to calm down to be able to drive in the car.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47It was all over.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51It was the most amazing feeling ever, yeah, fantastic.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Oh, baby. I've missed you so much.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Lily seemed delighted to come home too.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02You'll be here every day.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07But the best reunion was still to come.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08What's that noise?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10'I hid Lily in the hallway.'
0:25:10 > 0:25:12I don't know. Why don't you go and have a look?
0:25:12 > 0:25:15'Got the video camera out, let them in.'
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Lily!
0:25:20 > 0:25:22'They went crazy, it was lovely.'
0:25:22 > 0:25:24SCREAMING
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- Hello.- Hello.- Lily.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34SHE LAUGHS
0:25:35 > 0:25:40I was pleased that we were able to reunite Lily back with her family.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44I did see the YouTube article that the family did,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46which has had a lot of my colleagues
0:25:46 > 0:25:49in tears, especially all those that are dog lovers.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52There was a lot of tears shed in Kent police
0:25:52 > 0:25:54on the day that she was reunited.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57It didn't feel like she'd ever been away, no,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59it was like she had never been gone.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02The whole horrible experience was wiped out.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05She made herself straight at home. She sat in her favourite place.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09She wasn't at all bothered or worried about anything,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11it was just fantastic.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16I felt really happy and excited to see her.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19The kids are just so happy.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21That night when I put Henry to bed, he said, "Mummy,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24"thank you so much for finding Lily."
0:26:24 > 0:26:29'For me, to have a positive outcome for any crime is a bonus,
0:26:29 > 0:26:30'believe you, me.'
0:26:30 > 0:26:34But where there's people that are involved emotionally,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36yeah, it is very fulfilling.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38'My message to that police officer,'
0:26:38 > 0:26:40there's no words to explain
0:26:40 > 0:26:43just how much it meant to us to get her back.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Just a lovely thing to do, to help someone like that.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Yeah, it means the world to us, so, yeah, she is a very lovely lady.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Good girl, Lily.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Now for an update on today's stories.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09In the raid in Yorkshire,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12the suspect was not charged for drug dealing.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16He received a police caution for possession of class A drugs,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18but not class B.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20None of the items seized during the raid
0:27:20 > 0:27:23were from the church burglary and were returned.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29In the case of Barry and Theresa's burglary, no-one has been charged.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34They have taken Paul's advice and made their home more secure.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38We are going to get CCTV and invest in an alarm
0:27:38 > 0:27:40because the scene of crimes officer
0:27:40 > 0:27:43seems to think it's a good idea, it is a good idea.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47You don't think of these things until after they've happened.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49That is all from us today, we'll see you next time.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd