0:00:02 > 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 > 0:00:08It makes you sick to your stomach
0:00:08 > 0:00:10when you see everything that they've done.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14We're with the police as they hunt down burglars.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16We have high-powered vehicles,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18we're trained in pursuits,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20the adrenaline starts pumping,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22we've got to get behind that car.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24And we see how powerful it is
0:00:24 > 0:00:27when stolen goods get returned to their rightful owners.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31This made me realise that, although there are bad people,
0:00:31 > 0:00:32there's a lot more good people.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44It's 12.30 in Hertfordshire and a 999 call is coming in
0:00:44 > 0:00:46from a concerned local resident.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Police are dispatched immediately
0:01:05 > 0:01:08to try and catch the burglars red-handed.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13PC Zoe Davis, a nine-year veteran of the armed response unit,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16was on the case and is taking us back through the events of that day.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20So I'm heading up the A41 towards Berkhamsted.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25And we've heard that there are intruders at an address.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39As the burglars are ransacking the home
0:01:39 > 0:01:41and stealing the family valuables,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43the police are closing in.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47We are aware that this information is coming from an informant
0:01:47 > 0:01:52who were watching these two burglars going to this address.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55She's on the phone, we're getting up-to-date information
0:01:55 > 0:01:57that's from the horse's mouth.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01We know that these people shouldn't be there
0:02:01 > 0:02:03and that we need to capture them,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06so we may try and, you know, try and get their location
0:02:06 > 0:02:07as quick as we can.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I joined the police force in order to catch criminals,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26in order to stop people breaking the law.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Any police officer likes their job
0:02:29 > 0:02:34because they bring people to justice.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52They've got into a grey Golf
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and then it's made off at speed,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58mounting the kerb and it's caused damage to the vehicle.
0:03:02 > 0:03:0412.37 and the burglars are on the run.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08The police helicopter is dispatched
0:03:08 > 0:03:11to help teams on the ground track down the getaway car,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14stolen from a burglary in Essex.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20We now hear that the vehicle has been spotted
0:03:20 > 0:03:22on the high street, at Berkhamsted.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26As the suspects' car heads down the high street,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29two marked police cars are 15 seconds behind.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31And Zoe was also closing in.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Looking in the distance,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39I see a Golf, grey in colour, and coming the opposite direction
0:03:39 > 0:03:43and we see that vehicle go past very quickly.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Being in the armed response vehicle,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49we have high-powered vehicles, we're trained in pursuits,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52so, you know, the adrenaline starts pumping
0:03:52 > 0:03:54and we've got to get behind that car.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Thanks to the brave actions of the caller,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04the police are now in hot pursuit.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07And within 20 minutes of the call coming in,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09they catch up with the stolen car.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20It had been ditched on a slip road of the M25,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22but the three men had gone.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28The suspects were now trying to escape on foot,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32running across a field next to the slip road.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36A lorry driver stopped us, waved us down to say there were three men
0:04:36 > 0:04:44that have just run into the glazing company, down on Nook Lane.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45They'd run into a warehouse
0:04:45 > 0:04:49and were trying to blend in with the workers.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52They'd even tried to call a taxi to come and pick them up.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56But they weren't fooling anyone.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59With eight police cars and the helicopter surrounding the building,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02the three men were swiftly arrested.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Bu the time that I got full control of this gentleman, he was cuffed.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Obviously, the helicopter was over our heads.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14His phone was ringing, so I just took it off him,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17because I'm not having him...you know, it's in his pocket.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19People, when they're detained, under arrest,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21you can't have them making conversations on telephones,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24regardless of what they're telling you who it is.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Also, you're mindful that they're going to have pockets full of jewellery
0:05:28 > 0:05:32and there are bits and pieces that can be stashed away in back pockets, little pockets.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Within half and hour, literally, of that call coming in,
0:05:36 > 0:05:41we've got three in custody for it, and it's a real team effort.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43You get back in the car after a job like that
0:05:43 > 0:05:45and you're like, "That job is a good one."
0:05:45 > 0:05:50That is absolutely spectacular, back to the nick for tea and medals.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51I love it, it's brilliant.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58The average insurance claim for a burglary is around £1,400.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01But, as anyone who's been burgled will know,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05it's the sentimental value of the lost treasures that hurt the most.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Some things just can't be replaced.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Maltby, in Yorkshire.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16PC's Mick Fletcher and Christine Nicholls
0:06:16 > 0:06:18are responding to a burglary.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The Bartholomew family had returned home to find
0:06:21 > 0:06:23they'd not only been burgled,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25but the thieves had also stolen their car
0:06:25 > 0:06:27to use as a getaway vehicle.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30This is what we call a two-in-one burglary, Hanoi style.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35where they specifically break into an address to steal a vehicle.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38It's usually high-performance vehicles, expensive vehicles.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41For the limited information we've got at this moment in time,
0:06:41 > 0:06:46we know that a TV is gone and probably some computer software - laptops and such.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Christine and Mick have known each other for ten years.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Christine joined the police in 1996
0:06:53 > 0:06:56because she wanted a stable and fulfilling job
0:06:56 > 0:06:58to provide for her two children.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- Hi, Mr Bartholomew!- Yeah. - Police, hello there.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I spoke to you earlier on the telephone, it was me.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15The house has been ransacked from top to bottom.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19The thieves have stolen James' brand new car
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and a large amount of expensive electrical items.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27They've broken through the back door and they've took tellies,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30computers, camera...
0:07:30 > 0:07:32everything, basically.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38What they've done is use some sort of a tool,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42hammer or...something to force their way in here.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45It's possible that they've reached in, unlocked the door
0:07:45 > 0:07:47to allow the entry there.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49It's been in this bottom corner,
0:07:49 > 0:07:54it's because the glass has fragmented away from the point there.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59It was James' wife Janet who discovered they'd been burgled.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01I came home and noticed the car seat was on the drive,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and it stuck out because of the snow.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I realised the car had gone missing and instinct made me come in the house
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and noticed the dogs were running around.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13And I knew instantly when I walked past - the television had gone,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16the computer had gone, there was glass all over.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18The dogs are safe and well,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22but the stolen computer contained treasured family photos.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30All our little girl's photographs from birth to now, every holiday,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33every moment, birthday, Christmas, videos...
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Everything, it's all, all gone and...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Yeah, it's...heartbreaking.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Thankfully, their daughter Lily, who's now five,
0:08:43 > 0:08:48is staying with her grandparents and won't see the mess at home.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Whilst Christine takes a statement from Janet,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58James takes stock of what's been stolen.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01There was obviously a television on there that's been taken,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05there was a PlayStation 3 as well that's been stolen.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The fact they've been round the house is upsetting, it's worrying,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11you know, they've got the keys now to our house.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13We're not quite sure exactly what...you know,
0:09:13 > 0:09:14if they're going to come back.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17It makes you feel sick that somebody's actually been in your house,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20spent time sort of running around, looking at everything,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22taking what they want.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26The main issue that we've got is that all our photos have been taken.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30When I last checked, there was about 8,500 photos on the computer.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33I had the originals all still in the camera,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35but, sadly, they've found the camera as well.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Five years of...of photos have gone.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44It's awful. I mean, I know there's a lot worse things that happen in life,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47but...it's just that initial shock,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50you don't expect to walk through your door
0:09:50 > 0:09:52and someone else has been in your house and took your items.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55You think you know how you'll feel when things like that happen,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- but when you're actually faced with it...- It's completely different.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Yeah, definitely. Yeah.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03The thieves had stolen the car using a set of keys
0:10:03 > 0:10:06they'd found by the front door.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Most people, as soon as they come through the door,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11will put the keys in somewhere.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16There's easy access. Sometimes, they take the keys to bed with them.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20But the majority of us will just hang them up in a common place.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Sometimes, on a rack that says "keys".
0:10:23 > 0:10:27We don't make it hard for them, but you just never think it's going to happen to you.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32It's estimated that 70% of cars stolen are taken using the key,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36and at least one in five of these cases involve a burglary.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39So police advise to keep keys hidden away,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43to make sure it's as hard as possible for thieves to find them.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46As a victim of burglary himself,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Mick knows first-hand how Janet and James must be feeling.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's easy to say, "Don't let it affect you."
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- It will affect you.- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56And you will think for some time when you lock the door,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58"Am I going to get burgled?"
0:10:58 > 0:11:01But, you know, you can't do any more than you did.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You lock up, they've seen the car.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06They've seen an opportunity and targeted it for the car.
0:11:06 > 0:11:07- Yeah.- So...
0:11:10 > 0:11:14As the shock of the burglary begins to hit home,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16James heads to his bedroom
0:11:16 > 0:11:19to see what else the burglars might have stolen.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29The room has been completely ransacked,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33every single drawer has been pulled out in search of valuables.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39You can see they've emptied...the jewellery boxes,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41stripped everything out...
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Until we can start to clear up,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45it's hard to tell exactly what they've taken.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47But they've taken all the jewels over there,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49some of our daughter's clothing.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52And they've been through all the wardrobes as well.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58If they'd just been in and took the car keys, it's slightly different, they've done that,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02but they've actually spent time, they've been through the entire house.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05It's such a strange concept to us to actually go in,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08rob somebody's house, you can't even imagine.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12But it makes you sick to your stomach when you come through
0:12:12 > 0:12:14and you see everything that they've done.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18And if school would have been closed today, like most of the schools in the area,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21then Lily and Janet would have actually been here.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26You don't want to think about what could have actually happened, potentially.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Who or why would someone do that?
0:12:29 > 0:12:31When you've got car keys and you've got other items,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33why would you want to go through drawers?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And they've even opened my little girl's drawer
0:12:36 > 0:12:37and took her clothes out
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and the thought of them touching her clothes...
0:12:39 > 0:12:44I find that more upsetting than them sort of going through my things as well.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Meanwhile, Scenes of Crime Officer Angela Wallace has arrived
0:12:50 > 0:12:52and she may have some good news for the family.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I found some marks on the bottom of the TV.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59For some reason, the thieves have left one of the televisions.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01I've spoken to the complainants
0:13:01 > 0:13:04and they say that the TV's not been handled for quite a while,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08it stays on the stand and it isn't moved.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10And the marks here, you can see those marks there,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13they're fingertips coming round,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16possibly in a position where the TV's being picked up.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18So they are the ones I'm going to lift off.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25We suspect that it could be anything up to four people that's done this.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I think it's just now doing some local door-to-door enquiries,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30speaking to the neighbours, seeing what they've seen
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and relying heavily on our forensic evidence.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37These fingerprints are the only forensic evidence,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41but they could be just what the team needs to identify a suspect.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43The quality is there.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45What we do is we take the fingerprints of everybody
0:13:45 > 0:13:48that lives in the house, that could have possible touched the TV,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51make sure it's not theirs first to eliminate them,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53and then, we search these on the database.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56But that's not the only good news,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01the burglars have also left behind something very dear to the family.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05This is Clyde, he was actually here at the time.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10Um... Ironically, this breed was done for guard dogs,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12for the Tibetan monks,
0:14:12 > 0:14:16but, obviously, not enough to scare them away.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Cos they'll just roll over and have a tickle,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22if they had time to do that. Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29With Mick and Christine's investigations complete,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32James and Janet can begin putting their lives back together,
0:14:32 > 0:14:36sadly, without their treasured family photos.
0:14:38 > 0:14:44I just think you've took five years worth of memories away from us
0:14:44 > 0:14:47and I hope you're happy... And I hope, I hope they get payback,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49I hope that one day when they've got children
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and maybe their outlook changes a little bit
0:14:52 > 0:14:53and they've got photographs,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56they have someone come and take their photographs
0:14:56 > 0:14:58and know how we feel today.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01When it sinks in, I think we'll both sort of be...
0:15:01 > 0:15:05I don't know... I'll be quite down. At the minute, I'm a bit...
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- You're still in shock. - I'm still in shock,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I think I'll probably feel quite down about everything
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and the fact that someone's been in our bedroom
0:15:12 > 0:15:15and we've got to go back and sleep in that room and...
0:15:15 > 0:15:17It's going to be awkward tonight.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21- We'll not sleep easy tonight, definitely.- No.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Back at the station,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Mick and Christine have a long night ahead of them.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Between them, the pair have over 33 years of experience,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35but they still feel for every victim.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38It is difficult sometimes not to become affected
0:15:38 > 0:15:40and get wrapped up in it all.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43You have to try your best to remain as professional as possible
0:15:43 > 0:15:48and show the empathy they deserve.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53I don't even think they realise the upset they cause
0:15:53 > 0:15:57and it is nice to arrest these people and get them into court.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01And, you know, and, obviously, get them sent to prison,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03it gives you a great deal of job satisfaction.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12A car is stolen or broken into every two minutes.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14It's something South Yorkshire's Crime Prevention Officer
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Tracy Rokahr wants us all to guard against.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20It could be any time of the day
0:16:20 > 0:16:22that they could have look at a particular vehicle.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26It could be anywhere, it could be on the street,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28it could be in a car park...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Any opportunity at all, a thief will try and take something.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40It only takes an opportunity for a thief to break in
0:16:40 > 0:16:42and take their items.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46And people don't realise the risks they're putting themselves in
0:16:46 > 0:16:49by just leaving items in the car on view.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54It's estimated that over a quarter of a million sat navs are stolen every year.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58That's a lot of smashed windows.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05A bit of advice is don't leave any valuables on display,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08don't leave things in the glove compartment,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11on the dashboard and, also as well,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13if you have satellite navigation systems,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16don't leave the suction on the windscreen
0:17:16 > 0:17:21and ensure that you take it off and remove the mark on the windscreen.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Thieves can break into a car in a matter of seconds.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32This footage shows just how easy it is
0:17:32 > 0:17:35to get their hands on our precious possessions.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39It's getting into a routine of, when you're leaving your vehicle,
0:17:39 > 0:17:44to actually take everything with you, even if it's just for seconds.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47CAR KEY BEEPS
0:17:52 > 0:17:55After the successful police chase in Hertfordshire,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58the three suspects were in custody and DS Kerry Bull and the team
0:17:58 > 0:18:01could start building the case against them.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Any investigation is like a jigsaw puzzle
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and the more pieces of that jigsaw puzzle we've got,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the clearer the picture is for the jury that subsequently hear the case.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14But the suspects hadn't made it easy for Kerry and the team.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Since making off from the scene and being arrested,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19they'd discarded all the expensive items
0:18:19 > 0:18:21that they'd stolen during these events.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Even though they'd tried to cover their tracks,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26the case against them was growing.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30These guys are searched and in, right in the bottom of one of their pockets,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33we recovered a gold-coloured chain, in fact, plastic,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36which has come out of a Christmas cracker, funnily enough.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38And a silver ring with a cross shape
0:18:38 > 0:18:41cut into it and a diamond-coloured stone.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Now, those two items on their own, you would think nothing of them,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48because our victim was subsequently able to identify them,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52we knew that they came from the burglary earlier that day.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57But these two pieces of jewellery weren't the only bits of evidence Kerry had.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00We obviously had a member of the public who phoned us up,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03so we know what time the offence takes place.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05We had the stolen vehicle that was used in that crime,
0:19:05 > 0:19:10we know it was the vehicle used in crime, because parts that were knocked off of it as it made off,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14we were able to retrieve those parts, take them to the recovered vehicle
0:19:14 > 0:19:20and almost do a mechanical fit to show it's the same vehicle.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23So when you present facts like that, together with the fact
0:19:23 > 0:19:26that one of these guys is on the run from prison...
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Very, very pleasing.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30That's what makes our job worthwhile and satisfying,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32it's to be able to phone those victims up and say,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35"We've got the right people, they've now been convicted
0:19:35 > 0:19:37"and they won't be bothering you again."
0:19:39 > 0:19:43So now, Kerry has the enjoyable job of returning the jewellery,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46including the trinket from the Christmas cracker,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50to the victims of the burglary, Janet and Hugh.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53OK, so a couple of items...
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- As you know, you'd had an update and these guys are not been sent to prison.- Yes.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Which is, which is fantastic.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02But the couple of items, as you know, that we caught them on,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05I've got to return to you today.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06One of those is a silver ring
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and the other one, I think, came from a Christmas cracker?
0:20:09 > 0:20:10- Yes.- Yeah, is that right?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- It gives me great pleasure returning that to you.- Thank you very much.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17I think it's you silver ring, quite unusual.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18It's got a little cross on.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20And the second item...
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- This is the most valuable. - The most valuable, of course.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I put that away in case the grandchildren wanted to dress up.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30That's actually plastic, isn't it?
0:20:30 > 0:20:34They probably thought it was a valuable gold bracelet.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37I think I'm going to give the ring to my niece when I next see her
0:20:37 > 0:20:40because there's a huge story behind it.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43She never got it when she was 21.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46So now I shall give her that when I see her.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48What I will say with the guys that burgled your home,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52they've never ever on their previous convictions gone back to the same house again. OK?
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- So you can take some comfort from that.- The whole thing is extremely...
0:20:57 > 0:21:00It makes you very uncomfortable about leaving the house at any time.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04One thing I would say, in Herts, I know you've been a victim of burglary,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08but it's one of the safest counties in England and Wales to live in.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Crime is definitely on the decrease. It's about us targeting
0:21:10 > 0:21:13the right people and putting them in prison for as long as we can.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Thanks very much for returning the stolen stuff
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- and thank you for catching them. - Fantastic. My pleasure.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- Take care.- Thanks very much. - Nice to meet you.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27For Kerry, learning the stories behind recovered possessions
0:21:27 > 0:21:31like Janet's ring makes his job even more worthwhile.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34I didn't know until today that the ring we returned
0:21:34 > 0:21:37was for her niece's 21st birthday.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Now she'll be able to pass that on to her niece together with the story
0:21:40 > 0:21:44as to how we got it back. It will make it even more sentimental
0:21:44 > 0:21:46so it's good for us.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48No, I think the police have actually been great.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50I think catching them,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54the chase must have been exciting for them, but they caught them,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58they've got sufficient evidence, they've gone to prison.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Or at least two of them have, which is absolutely fantastic.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04And then they've kept us informed throughout with what's going on.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05They've been excellent.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Earlier we saw the devastating effect that burglary can have on victims.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Burglars ransacked the Bartholomews' home,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23stealing almost £40,000 worth of their belongings
0:22:23 > 0:22:25including their new car.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26They'd even stolen their computer
0:22:26 > 0:22:29containing five-years' worth of family photos.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35All our little girl's photographs from birth. Everything has all gone.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It's heartbreaking.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43But there has been a major breakthrough in the case.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47DS John Dimberline has received a crucial piece of evidence
0:22:47 > 0:22:52from an eyewitness living on the other side of Sheffield.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56What you can see there is literally the snow scene
0:22:56 > 0:23:00and in the background you can see the vehicle.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04It's James' car.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06This photo was taken on the day of the burglary
0:23:06 > 0:23:10by a witness who saw something suspicious and reported it to the police.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16She describes four males at the scene, driving the car erratically
0:23:16 > 0:23:18which has alerted her to the vehicle.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22They've parked up and as they exit, what she's done is use a mobile phone
0:23:22 > 0:23:25to actually take pictures of the offenders in the vehicle,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27which is probably about as good as it gets.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31I'm hoping that once we identify them,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35we'll be able to put them in an ID parade and marry that up
0:23:35 > 0:23:37with the evidence we've got from the eyewitness at the scene.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40After receiving this crucial evidence,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43James' car has been successfully recovered
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and the team are one step closer to tracking down the burglars.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Now, John is on his way to meet the family
0:23:54 > 0:23:56and reunite them with their car
0:23:56 > 0:23:59and hopefully, some of their other stolen possessions.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05When you've got something personal like photos that can't be replaced,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I think they're going back five years,
0:24:07 > 0:24:11then if you can get something back like that,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14it just makes it a little bit better, that's all.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Well, hopefully, this is where the car's been recovered to.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24As far as we're aware, there are some items still left
0:24:24 > 0:24:27in the car, which hopefully contains the computer
0:24:27 > 0:24:30that's got all the important stuff on that we wanted back.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33We're not quite sure what state the car's in
0:24:33 > 0:24:35or what's actually in there.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Hi. John Dimberline, sergeant from Burglary Unit. Hello.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- Hi. I'm James.- Do you want to come straight through? We've got the BMW waiting
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- so we'll see of hopefully some of your property's inside.- Lovely.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55- Is this the one?- It is, yes.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Yeah.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- Quite a lot of property on the back, isn't there?- Yeah. - Your pram's there.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03I can see my camera.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05And that looks like the computer.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Yeah. Looks like everything's there, doesn't it?
0:25:17 > 0:25:22Amazingly, the thieves have left some of Janet and James' stolen property in the car.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And the all-important computer?
0:25:25 > 0:25:27That's in there too.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31All the photographs are on the computer.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33We know even if the computer's damaged,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I'm sure we can retrieve them from the hard drive,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40so we know we've got our photographs back. It's great.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44They forgot to take the mouse as well so we've still got a mouse!
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So we can get onto that and have a look.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50I'm just glad we've got a happy outcome. Some people don't, do they?
0:25:50 > 0:25:54That one lady just making that one phone call
0:25:54 > 0:25:57has made me and James really happy.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00So, yeah, we don't have to tell our little girl as well
0:26:00 > 0:26:03where all the photographs are any more. Yeah. Amazing.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I don't even know what's in the boot yet,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08but as long as we've got that computer back,
0:26:08 > 0:26:10we've got our photographs back.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Even though the burglary was a very distressing time for Janet,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16there has been a positive outcome in more ways than one.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Everyone's just been so, so lovely.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23It's made me realise that although there are bad people,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25there's a lot more good people.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27That's been really nice to realise that
0:26:27 > 0:26:32because I think sometimes you forget that, how many good people there are.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34I'll change the way I am as a person, I think,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37because of what's happened to us. It's been quite life changing.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42We've got the main thing that we wanted, which is obviously
0:26:42 > 0:26:45the computer. Photos and videos, every Christmas,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48every birthday for the last five years is on there,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52so, yeah, we're over the moon at that.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56- Thank you very much.- All right, buddy?- Cheers. Thank you.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02It's just time for an update on today's stories.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06In the burglary and police chase in Hertfordshire,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09all three suspects pleaded guilty to burglary.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Patrick Murphy got a ten-month suspended sentence,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Patrick Reynolds was sent to prison for 16 months
0:27:17 > 0:27:21and Thomas Reynolds was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison
0:27:21 > 0:27:24for the burglary and four months for escaping from prison.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32In Yorkshire, Niall Johnston, pleaded guilty to the Bartholomews' burglary and car theft.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40The police are still trying to identify the other suspects
0:27:40 > 0:27:42seen in the eyewitness photograph.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47But this photo is a great example of how WE can help the police
0:27:47 > 0:27:49in the fight against crime.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52If you're there and it looks suspicious and you're not sure,
0:27:52 > 0:27:54then that's sometimes enough.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56If you can, just get a photo.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Then if anything does transpire, like this,
0:27:59 > 0:28:04you've actually got grade A evidence for us so it's more than worth doing.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09And the Bartholomew family recovered all of their missing photographs.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15That's all from us today. We'll see you next time.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd