0:00:02 > 0:00:05We're on the case of a crime that affects over one in 50 homes - burglary.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Coming up...
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Devastated. Very upsetting.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12I never realised I'd feel like this
0:00:12 > 0:00:16when something like that happened because it's just an item,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19but to me, it's... It's everything.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23We're with the police as they hunt down criminals.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Stand still or I'll let this dog go! It's your last chance!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28And we see how powerful it is
0:00:28 > 0:00:32when stolen goods get returned to their rightful owners.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Out of everything that was stolen,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37I think this is the item I'm most pleased to have back again.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It's full of so many memories.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42It's a real emotional treasure trove.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56In Essex, dog handler PC Tony Mayo is at home
0:00:56 > 0:00:59with two-year-old German Shepherd Wilson.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01He's a hard-working police dog
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and he lives with Tony and his family.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I've had Wil just over a year.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Wil's my third general-purpose dog
0:01:09 > 0:01:11over the years I've been on the dog section.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14I've had two drug, sniffer dogs, as well.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18And I went through various other dogs before we found the right ones.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21But I have to say, I think he's probably my favourite
0:01:21 > 0:01:23of the three cos he's so personable.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26He's got his droopy ears and his big nose,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29so it just makes him a little bit different from the others.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31He's my favourite.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Tony's married with a young son.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38And being a dog handler means a lot of work, even when he gets home.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40A lot of the guys, normal bobbies and that,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42when they go home for the day,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44that's it, that's their work done.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47But when we come home, we've got to keep on walking them,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50feeding them, dealing with them when they're ill.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52And that continues on your rest days.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55You don't give them back. They stay with you sort of 24/7.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57So it's a full-time job.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Tony has been a dog officer for 12 years
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and has managed to keep one of his previous drugs dogs, Zippy,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05as a family pet.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Like any dog handler, he builds up an incredibly strong bond
0:02:08 > 0:02:10with the dogs he works with
0:02:10 > 0:02:14and it's always hard to let them go once the working partnership ends.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17I've retired two general police dogs before Wil.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I had them both for five years each.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23It's extremely hard because you're with them every day.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25They've got you out of some scrapes
0:02:25 > 0:02:28and made you look good catching people over the years.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Then all of a sudden, to have to give them up and not see them again,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and then sort of just start from the beginning,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38is emotionally hard and physically sort of quite demanding.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41But whatever the hardships are,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Tony wouldn't swap roles with any of his colleagues.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47It's the best job, I think, in the police.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Because you're allowed to hunt,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51be a policeman and work with dogs.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54And it's just that feeling of getting that result
0:02:54 > 0:02:56where you wouldn't have normally got that result
0:02:56 > 0:02:59if it wasn't for the police dog.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08And today, Tony is really hoping Wilson will get that result.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10The pair of them are on their way to an urgent call.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13There's a report of three males
0:03:13 > 0:03:17acting suspiciously in a road in Basildon.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19This area has been getting quite hit for burglaries lately,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22so we'll get there as quick as we can and, um...
0:03:22 > 0:03:24try and see what they're up to.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27No burglary has been reported,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31but Tony understands how vulnerable the homeowners must be feeling.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36It is intimidating when you've got three males outside your house
0:03:36 > 0:03:38that are, um...just hanging about
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and looking a bit suspicious.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42But just as Tony and Wilson arrive,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45the three men are already making off.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Two to Three, suspects making off.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Stand still or I'll let this dog go! It's your last chance!
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Get out of the way!
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Stand still! Stop him!
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Two to Three, dog sent.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Stand still!
0:04:08 > 0:04:09Stand still now!
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Two to Three, Graham, get down here.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20DOG WHIMPERS
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Argh! Argh! Argh! Aaarrgghh!
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Let go of him! Wil, leave.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28DOG WHIMPERS
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- DOG WHINES - Stand still! Come back here now!
0:04:33 > 0:04:35DOG BARKS
0:04:38 > 0:04:41They need to be searched.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Cuff them up.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Although it isn't ideal for anyone to have been bitten,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Wilson has done the job he was trained to do.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51A police dog bite is a serious injury.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54What Wil's done is when Wil's got him on the leg,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57he's got three or four pairs of trousers on,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59so he's got a big mouthful of trousers.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Thankfully, for matey boy, that he didn't actually get him on the thigh.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08because it would've been damaging to his leg.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12If you hear, "Police dog. Stand still or I'll let the dog go!"
0:05:12 > 0:05:15then you'd be wise to stand still.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Wilson has caught the three men the police wanted to talk to.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21It's a successful mission.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24And we'll be back on shift with Tony and Wilson later on.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30We all know that burglary is a devastating crime
0:05:30 > 0:05:33that will sadly affect about one in 50 of us.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Insurance claims are there to help us replace our stolen items,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39but what if the thieves take something of little monetary cost,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42but of huge sentimental value?
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Something that just can't be replaced.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48That's the predicament retired orthopaedic surgeon Malcolm Lawrence
0:05:48 > 0:05:50found himself in.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Malcolm had chosen picturesque Hampshire
0:05:53 > 0:05:56as the place to settle after a busy working life.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Just generally a comfortable, quiet, pleasant place to live.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04I've always been happy there. We've never had any problems at all.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09In 2004, Malcolm's first wife Pam passed away.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Malcolm treasured his precious memories of their life together.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Her rings and their wedding album.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18I felt quite cast adrift, really, I suppose.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22When you've had somebody who's been a wife and a friend,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25you miss them quite a lot when they're not there.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27During the years after Pam's death,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Malcolm gradually became close to the couple's mutual friend
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and work colleague Sally Anne,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34who had supported him through his grief.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Sally Anne has been somebody I've known
0:06:37 > 0:06:41for many, many years working in Winchester.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43We've always got on very well.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46She's got a wonderful sense of humour.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48One thing led to another, really.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53The happy couple married in 2008 and haven't looked back since.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I always regarded myself as very lucky the first time around,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00but to be equally lucky the second time around is, um...
0:07:00 > 0:07:03you know, more than I think one can reasonably expect.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07The newlyweds based themselves at Sally Anne's house.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10They'd visit Malcolm's house nearby every so often,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13just to make sure all was well.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16But they discovered they weren't the only ones who'd been visiting.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I opened the door and it was soon fairly obvious
0:07:22 > 0:07:25that somebody had been routing about on the inside.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Then, as I went through the house,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29I found out they'd broken in the back door,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31that was how they'd got in.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34It was obvious that pictures had been removed from the wall.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36The grandfather clock had gone
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and lots of other bits had vanished into the night, as it were.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Some of the things that were particularly devastating to lose
0:07:45 > 0:07:47was Pam's jewellery box,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49including her wedding ring and engagement ring
0:07:49 > 0:07:53and also there was the wedding album,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55which obviously had a lot of memories,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58both of her and of her family.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02After Pam's death, these mementos of their life together
0:08:02 > 0:08:05are so dear to Malcolm.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08The photographs and the wedding ring itself, yes,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12they obviously had quite a great sentimental value to them.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17So their loss was somewhat devastating
0:08:17 > 0:08:18because they were irreplaceable.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22And part of your life, if you like, which, you know,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25is something you hang onto and cherish.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Perhaps you don't realise the value of them until they're gone.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Obviously, I called the police.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34The police came along, had a look around,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36dusted the place for fingerprints.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39We really thought while the police will look into it,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I wasn't sure how much chance there would be
0:08:41 > 0:08:45that they'd recover any of the goods that had been taken.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49It's a very strange feeling when you find you've been robbed.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51You know, first of all, there's a kind of...
0:08:51 > 0:08:54really, an "I don't believe it" sort of feeling.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Like Victor Meldrew, really.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00And then the full shock and horror and implication comes in
0:09:00 > 0:09:04that somebody's been rifling among your personal possessions,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06often cherished possessions.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11You know, it just leaves you with this rather horrible empty feeling.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15I felt devastated for him.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Heartbroken, in fact.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Because I knew the value,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22sentimentally, of the photo album.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27And the personal things between him and Pam.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30They'd intended to spend the rest of their lives together.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32That was cut very short.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34I was so angry, as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38How dare they cause this disruption to our lives?
0:09:38 > 0:09:40We hadn't asked for it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45SHE SIGHS
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It's devastating.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49It's devastating.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53The burglars took over £10,000 worth
0:09:53 > 0:09:55of belongings from Malcolm's house.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58But of all the expensive items they took,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00he was the most pessimistic about the return
0:10:00 > 0:10:03of some irreplaceable reminders of a life gone by.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08The wedding album, I would've thought that was something that,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11as they came to sort the stuff subsequently,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13they would either dispose of or...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19..you'd not see it again. They wouldn't...
0:10:19 > 0:10:21If they'd taken it in the first place,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24they wouldn't exactly gift-wrap it and give it back to you.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Back in Basildon in Essex,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31PC Tony Mayo and his dog Wilson are on a late shift.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Tonight, Tony is called to a burglary.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40It's urgent that he gets Wilson there quickly
0:10:40 > 0:10:44because the homeowners believe the culprits might still be inside.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I'll let him search the premises on his own
0:10:46 > 0:10:49and if he comes across them, he'll introduce himself
0:10:49 > 0:10:52and let me know that they're still there.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Most people just freeze when they've got
0:10:54 > 0:10:5845 kilos of German Shepherd sort of barking at them.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- What did you notice, the door had been forced, or...?- No.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04The rear window?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The police helicopter's hovering overhead,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17checking if the burglar's run out of the house.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20I'm going to get the police dog just to quickly search it,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22make sure there's no-one else hiding, lurking,
0:11:22 > 0:11:23and then we'll go from there.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29OK. Police dog. Come out now or I'll let the dog go!
0:11:35 > 0:11:38The burglars have been through every room.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47But Wilson can't find anyone inside.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52If there was anyone in there hiding, he'd start barking.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53He now searches the garden
0:11:53 > 0:11:56with the help of a police helicopter overhead.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Two to Three to the hotel unit.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Just put your light on for us.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09The garden is clear.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Wilson's done his job and the homeowners can now rest easy
0:12:11 > 0:12:14that at least the intruders have gone.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16A little bit scary, yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20They've taken, um...sort of small items, really.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Cash, jewellery, watches, camera, that sort of thing.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28I called the police. Police helicopter was first here.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Um...helicopter was here within minutes, really.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Whilst I was on the phone, I could hear the helicopter coming over
0:12:35 > 0:12:40and the police arrived in...ten minutes, I would say.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Wilson's earned himself a little rest.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45He didn't catch the culprits this time, but the police are hopeful
0:12:45 > 0:12:49that the forensic evidence they've gathered in the couple's home
0:12:49 > 0:12:51might lead them to the burglars.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53We've had Scenes of Crimes attend.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He's come with all his bits and taken markings, fingerprints.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59So we'll have to await those results
0:12:59 > 0:13:01and hope some positive results come out of that.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04As far as the police are concerned, we go back to the station,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08crime it and take it from there and carry on with our investigation.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09It's never a nice thing.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I think burglary's one of those things, it's very personal, isn't it,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16that someone's entered your personal space.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19It's not a nice thing at all that happens, so...
0:13:19 > 0:13:21It's all sort of reality sinking in a bit.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26And burglary is a crime that Tony knows the effect of only too well.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Yeah, we got burgled where I live just about a year ago now.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34About 7:30 in the morning,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37our neighbour come with my wife's coat and handbag.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41They'd gone through it, took her warrant card and her iPhone
0:13:41 > 0:13:45and the rest of it was all strewn down the street.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Waking up to that realisation that you've been burgled
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and someone's come into your house...
0:13:51 > 0:13:53it's sickening, really. It absolutely guts you.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Because you just think, you know, your house is your castle,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00someone's come into it, some...scumbag.
0:14:00 > 0:14:01You're just angry, upset.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03You've got so many emotions.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07I empathise with burglary victims when we go and speak to them.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Yeah, I do know how you feel because it's, um... It's horrible.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19PC Lisa Thompson also knows how awful a burglary can be.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23She's from the Response And Patrol Unit, in Laindon, in Essex,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and regularly has to deal with the victims of this invasive crime.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Lisa joined the force six and a half years ago
0:14:31 > 0:14:33because she wanted to do the right thing.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36For her, the most satisfying part of the job, is finding the one
0:14:36 > 0:14:39bit of evidence that leads to a suspect being caught.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43They've obviously come home
0:14:43 > 0:14:47and found that they've been burgled and have called us.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Scenes of Crime are already on scene.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It sounds like the gentleman's pretty upset,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53so, we'll go and see what we've got.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01Christine and Laurie have come home at 10:30 after a night out.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Initially, they didn't realise they'd been burgled.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06The first thing we thought was the cat had done something
0:15:06 > 0:15:08but as soon as we turned into the bedroom
0:15:08 > 0:15:12and saw the doors open and drawers pulled open,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16then we realised that we'd actually been burgled.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21What was odd is what they took.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25They took my wife's jewellery but it was other things,
0:15:25 > 0:15:31like they left my watches, they left the camera, didn't take my iPad.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35They even left some cash, so didn't take that, which was surprising.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Just took everything out of the drawers, just threw everything out
0:15:40 > 0:15:45the drawers, out the wardrobes. They tipped Laurie's wardrobe, tipped all this outside.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50So, they took quite a lot of stuff. Well, my stuff, anyway.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I'm just worried about my jewellery.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55I've lost my wedding ring from my first marriage.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58When my husband died, I've got my wedding ring, engagement ring.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Devastated. Very upsetting.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05I never realised I'd feel like this when something like that happened,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09because it's just an item, but to me, it's...
0:16:09 > 0:16:10It's everything.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17What she's lost has very little monetary value
0:16:17 > 0:16:19but huge sentimental value.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24So, you can't replace the sentiment.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28The thieves broke into the couple's house by smashing through
0:16:28 > 0:16:30the cat-flap on the back door.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32I never did feel safe with that door
0:16:32 > 0:16:35because of that wood done there, but I thought it was just me.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38But apparently, if it had been glass, they'd have smashed that
0:16:38 > 0:16:40got something to smash that in, I suppose.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43But how the burglars got into the back garden,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45to break through the door, is a mystery.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Laurie, a Magistrate, who spent many years
0:16:48 > 0:16:52working for the police as a civilian, has his own theories.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54It's very well fenced.
0:16:54 > 0:17:00It's gated with a high gate which has got spikes on top,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04so how they actually got in, they certainly didn't go out through
0:17:04 > 0:17:08the front door, which was morticed. They came out this way.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I can only assume they scrambled over the fence
0:17:10 > 0:17:12and went out through the next garden.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Before checking with the neighbours if they saw anything,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Lisa has a quick look around Laurie and Christine's back garden
0:17:18 > 0:17:21for potential clues and forensic evidence.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Obviously that's a nice foothold but there's cobwebs on there
0:17:25 > 0:17:27so I wouldn't have thought they've come that way.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Just looking to see if there's any kick marks
0:17:33 > 0:17:35or anything out of the ordinary with the vegetation
0:17:35 > 0:17:38around the garden, just to see if there's any obvious way
0:17:38 > 0:17:41that they've got in from a neighbour or anything like that.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Because it's a cold night and the ground is frozen,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Lisa can't see any obvious clues like footprints.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50But she needs to check the neighbours' gardens too.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52You don't know if they've come garden-hopping
0:17:52 > 0:17:54or anything like that?
0:17:54 > 0:17:57The dog barks at anything. Mind you, she barks at anything
0:17:57 > 0:18:01so one doesn't tend to take so much notice, but I think she'd have continued.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04It would've been from 6:30 until half-an-hour ago.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06We've been in from three o'clock, before that.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08It's just a quick look, if that's all right?
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Just to make sure there's no footprints or anything
0:18:10 > 0:18:12across your garden or anything.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21Things like this are a nice easy perch for somebody to jump on top of
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and hop over a fence, but that's obviously not been disturbed tonight.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27It's minus four out, so I would've thought there'd be
0:18:27 > 0:18:32some marks left on there. It wouldn't take a lot to make a mark on there.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35I don't think they've come this way.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Still a mystery as to how they've gained access into the garden.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Lisa can't solve this crime straightaway, but to her,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44it's important to reassure the couple,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46who are still clearly in shock.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52Obviously, you're upset and shaken by what's happened.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55How else are you feeling about the whole thing? Angry?
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- Erm...- I'm very angry.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02- It'll take a little while. - Yeah, I think...
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Chris is frightened, obviously.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09I would say I'm trying to be pragmatic about it,
0:19:09 > 0:19:14but it's the invasion of privacy that I think is the real bit.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16How dare they do that.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22All of us sitting in this room, we do a day's work, we pay our taxes
0:19:22 > 0:19:24and these people, this is what they do.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27That makes me angry.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32It's now nearly three hours since Laurie and Christine got home
0:19:32 > 0:19:36and Lisa's waited for the right moment to take a statement.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40It might be hard, but Lisa has to establish the facts.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47This is the difficult bit. Can you try and put a price to the items?
0:19:47 > 0:19:52- Your wedding ring.- That changes. I don't know.- Let's say £100.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54OK, engagement ring?
0:19:56 > 0:20:00£200. That comes to £1,000 ballpark.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Roughly, yeah? OK.- Yeah.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08And a cost for the back door as well, to be repaired properly
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- to a good standard.- I doubt whether that door could be repaired.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- I would imagine... - It's split the middle panel.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- It's going to be a new and you're talking about £700.- OK.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23With the paperwork done, it's time for Lisa to leave.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26There are very few clues or forensic evidence
0:20:26 > 0:20:28but she'll file a report and see if the details about how
0:20:28 > 0:20:32the thieves got in and what they stole matches any other burglaries.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35For her, it's the fact that criminals are creatures
0:20:35 > 0:20:37of habit that helps get them caught.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41- Thank you.- OK, no problem. Thank you very much for your time. Take care.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42Thank you.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47But Lisa is still hopeful that she can somehow get
0:20:47 > 0:20:49a result for Laurie and Christine.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51It's nearly two o'clock in the morning
0:20:51 > 0:20:53so the plan is to drop some burglary cards through the door,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57which I've already written out, which gives the time between
0:20:57 > 0:21:00when the people went out, to when they've come home
0:21:00 > 0:21:01to discover the burglary.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05The date and the telephone number, and then the incident number,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08so if they've noticed anything, then they can call the police.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10You never know, it's worth a try.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Although Laurie and Christine are completely devastated about what
0:21:18 > 0:21:22has happened, they say Lisa made the experience a lot less traumatic.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26The whole attitude of the police officer was sympathetic,
0:21:26 > 0:21:32trying to help, trying to find out how we felt about it,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37not making any false promises, and there is absolutely no doubt
0:21:37 > 0:21:39that we feel much better,
0:21:39 > 0:21:44because of the way the officer has approached us,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46the way we've been treated,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50and I couldn't actually begin to say how good she's been.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57We're so grateful to her for the way she's gone about a difficult job.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03A close friend of Lisa's was recently burgled,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07so she knows exactly how vulnerable and upset the couple are feeling.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10She thinks burglary is one of the most horrible crimes,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14and this only drives her on to catch the culprits.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It's really sad when you meet nice people that have worked their
0:22:17 > 0:22:21whole lives for a living, spent their money on nice things,
0:22:21 > 0:22:26to have somebody come into their house, steal their items,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29damage their door. You know, you can see how upset the lady was.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I really feel for them.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35I just hope that we catch somebody, a little bit of justice,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38and that the person that gets caught or the people that get caught
0:22:38 > 0:22:40get a decent sentence.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And now back to Hampshire, where Malcolm Lawrence was
0:22:45 > 0:22:49left in total dismay after burglars targeted his home.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53The total cost of replacing the stolen items would be more than
0:22:53 > 0:22:57£10,000, but his greatest concern was the loss of some
0:22:57 > 0:22:59of his treasured possessions.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02The wedding ring belonging to his late wife, Pam,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05and the couple's photo album from their wedding day.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Whilst the police were busy making their enquiries,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14Malcolm and his second wife, Sally Ann, had become more vigilant.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We've become a lot more aware of the need to check the place
0:23:17 > 0:23:19than perhaps we were before.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25I think the complacency we'd had had been quietly knocked out of place.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26And just as well.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30On one fateful day when Malcolm was doing his usual visit,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33he realised somebody was inside.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38As I came up to the house, I put the key into the lock.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42I was aware of a rustling noise and I soon realised as I turned
0:23:42 > 0:23:46the key to open the door, that they'd put the chain across.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48That restricted the opening of the door
0:23:48 > 0:23:51so I peered through the letterbox to see one of them promptly came
0:23:51 > 0:23:54down from the loft and was running towards the back of the house.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I yelled to Sally Ann then to call the police.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Hello? Yes, there's someone in the house.
0:24:00 > 0:24:06'I saw two figures running from behind the house through the woods.'
0:24:07 > 0:24:10My heart started thumping at this stage because Malcolm was
0:24:10 > 0:24:15closer to them and I wondered whether they would attack him.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I was terrified.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21I could see down the lay-by and saw them emerge
0:24:21 > 0:24:23through the hedge to the van.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26I then started running towards them shouting, "Stop,"
0:24:26 > 0:24:28whilst I was still on the phone to the police.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33They didn't even look up, they got in the van and drove off.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39I was terrified. I was more frightened for Malcolm.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44But when I saw them, the thought that they might do me any harm
0:24:44 > 0:24:46never really entered my head.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Certainly from their initial reaction,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51they seemed more frightened of me than I was of them.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54And perhaps they had every reason to be.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57These burglars didn't seem to know when to quit.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Not content with what they'd taken last time,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03it seems they'd come back for more.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06I couldn't see immediately there was anything left for them to do
0:25:06 > 0:25:08and why they'd gone back again.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Not content with removing the contents,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13they'd come back perhaps to remove some of the metal, bricks,
0:25:13 > 0:25:18mortar and the nuts and bolts to the house, if you like.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Whilst the thieves sped off,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Sally Ann was clear-headed enough
0:25:22 > 0:25:26to write down the registration number on their getaway van,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28a feat that the police were very grateful for
0:25:28 > 0:25:30when they came to gather more evidence.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Well, the police were here taking a statement from me
0:25:33 > 0:25:36as to what had happened, what I thought was missing,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40and suddenly they had a call on their mobile phone.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44They said very quickly to us, "Something's cropped up,
0:25:44 > 0:25:45"we've got to go."
0:25:45 > 0:25:48In fact, the police had already tracked down the name
0:25:48 > 0:25:50and address of the van owner.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52When they went to search their house,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55they found a key that fitted a lock-up which was full
0:25:55 > 0:25:57of Malcolm's possessions.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Unbelievably, every single item
0:25:59 > 0:26:02stolen from Malcolm's home was returned.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06The fact that they'd recovered everything I thought was amazing
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and it was the fact that they brought it all back,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11almost personal delivery service to return it,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14which I thought was most impressive.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Our thanks go to the noble gentlemen at the Hampshire Constabulary.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I think they did a wonderful job.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Malcolm's late wife Pam's engagement and wedding rings
0:26:22 > 0:26:24were safely back in his possession.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26And, even more importantly,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29the couple's wedding album was back home.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31It's really good to get this back again
0:26:31 > 0:26:34because it's full of so many memories.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38In fact, there's more memories in here than I'd realised.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41To have it back is an absolute delight.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Out of everything that was stolen,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47I think this is the item I'm most pleased to have back again
0:26:47 > 0:26:50because it contains so many memories, not just of my late wife,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53but of many other people who have gone before.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56It's a real emotional treasure trove.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Now for an update on today's stories.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05In Essex, police dog Wilson chased three men.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08In the end, there was no evidence of any wrongdoing
0:27:08 > 0:27:10and no charges were made against them,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13but the dog had performed excellently.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15He also searched through a house where some burglars
0:27:15 > 0:27:17were believed to have been hiding.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19In that case, the culprits got away
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and the police haven't yet found any leads to them.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Laurie and Christine in Essex,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28who had over £1,000 worth of jewellery stolen from their home,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30sadly haven't had any items returned yet.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33But they have upgraded their security.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36They've bought a new back door with reinforced glass
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and a multiple-point lock.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42And Hampshire Police are pleased to have charged two men
0:27:42 > 0:27:45with the burglary of retired surgeon Malcolm Lawrence's home.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Both have been given 52 weeks' imprisonment
0:27:48 > 0:27:53suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of community service.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56That's all from us today. We'll see you next time.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd