TV crew get robbed while reporting on neighbourhood crime hot spots

A TV news crew had thousands of pounds of equipment stolen while reporting about a new app to help people avoid bad neighbourhoods.

The journalists and cameramen from American news network WUSA9 were busy asking people what they thought about so-called "sketchy" areas in Washington.

But as they were being told about how quiet Petworth, an area in the northwest of the city is, their van parked nearby was broken into.

Journalist Mola Lenghi explained: "As folks were telling us that it was a good neighbourhood and not much activity happens around there our van was being robbed."

Yobs broke the lock to their van and stole thousands of pounds worth of equipment including cameras, iPads, wallets and laptops.

Photojournalist James Hash said: "It was just a disaster."

But in a bizarre change of luck the group embarked on a four-hunt for their gear using the 'Find My iPhone' application. 

They eventually tracked one of the phone's signals to bins in a neighbouring area - where they found most of their stuff.

Mola said: "All in all not too bad of a loss, but I'm sure the station wouldn't agree with that."