Real Cases. Real Cops. Real Talk.
Crime Time Inc.
True crime stories told by the detectives who worked them. Hosted by former law enforcement officers Tom Wood and Simon McLean.
5
Seasons
268+
Episodes
★ 5
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S5 · E28 · 26:45
Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows
🎙 Crime Time Inc. – Jane Hamilton Book Launch Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows | The Scottish Serial Killer Case In this special episode of Crime Time Inc., Tom sits down with investigative journalist Jane Hamilton for the first in-depth discussion of her new book: Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows This episode explores the crimes of Peter Tobin, one of Scotland’s most notorious serial killers, and the long investigation that linked him to the murders of: Vicki Hamilton (15) Dinah McNicol (18) Angelika Kluk (23) Rather than glorifying the killer, Jane’s book focuses on the lives of the young women he murdered — and the investigative journey that uncovered the truth. 📚 About the Book – Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows Publisher: Mirror Books Release Date: 26 February Written in memory of Vicki Hamilton, Dinah McNicol and Angelika Kluk A journalist’s perspective on one of Scotland’s darkest criminal investigations Jane was present from the earliest days of the Angelika Kluk investigation in Glasgow, when her body was discovered beneath the floorboards of St Patrick’s Church in 2006. That murder ultimately exposed Peter Tobin’s hidden past and led to the reopening of earlier missing persons cases. 🔎 The Peter Tobin Case: A Timeline 1991 – Vicki Hamilton disappears in Bathgate on a freezing February night 1991 – Dinah McNicol vanishes after hitchhiking from a music festival 2006 – Angelika Kluk murdered in Glasgow Post-2006 – Operation Anagram links Tobin to earlier murders Tom reflects on his own policing experience during the Vicki Hamilton investigation and explains why Tobin was one of the hardest serial killers in Scotland to catch — frequently changing addresses, aliases and identities. 🎧 What This Episode Explores The psychology of an opportunistic serial killer How Peter Tobin evaded detection for years The role of Operation Anagram in linking cold cases Grooming, vulnerability and offender behaviour patterns The differences between police investigations and investigative journalism The decline of long-form crime reporting in modern media Jane also shares how she tracked down Tobin’s former wives and pursued leads internationally to build a fuller picture of the man behind the crimes. 📰 Investigative Journalism vs Police Investigation This episode offers rare insight into: How journalists build trust without legal powers The ethical challenges of reporting on serial murder Telling victims’ stories without sensationalism Why historical true crime still resonates today 🎙 Why This Episode Matters The Peter Tobin case remains one of the most significant serial killer investigations in Scottish criminal history. This conversation highlights: The human cost behind the headlines The long shadow cast by unresolved missing persons cases The importance of persistence in both policing and journalism 🔔 Listen If You’re Interested In: Scottish serial killer cases Peter Tobin and Operation Anagram Cold case investigations True crime podcast discussions Investigative journalism About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 · E27 · 57:14
The Zodiac Killer Investigation: Why He Was Never Caught
The Zodiac Killer Investigation: Why He Was Never Caught Fingerprints, ciphers, and the multi-agency manhunt that led nowhere By the end of 1970, the Zodiac had murdered across four California jurisdictions, mailed taunting letters and cryptic ciphers to newspapers, and walked away without ever being identified. In this episode, we examine the investigation itself — the coordination between Solano County, Vallejo, Napa County, and San Francisco; the role of the California Department of Justice; and the mountain of evidence that ultimately led nowhere. We explore the key forensic pillars of the case: the latent fingerprints recovered from Paul Stine’s taxi, the handwriting analysis linking confirmed Zodiac letters, the physical evidence from multiple crime scenes, and the disputed connection to the 1966 murder of Cheri Jo Bates. Despite thousands of tips, hundreds of suspects, and decades of review, no match was ever made. Why did the investigation fail? And was the Zodiac simply clever — or just lucky? Next episode: the suspects. About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 · E26 · 47:49
Princess Diana and the Anatomy of Close Protection: When Security Works — and When It Fails
Princess Diana’s decision to dismiss her official protection officers changed everything. John Lennon walked out of the Dakota without security — and paid the ultimate price. In this episode of Crime Time Inc., Tom and Simon go inside the rarely-seen world of close protection — the meticulous planning, quiet threat assessments, and fragile trust that stand between public figures and catastrophe. This is not Hollywood bodyguard mythology. It’s the real machinery of prevention. Drawing on decades of operational experience, we explore how personal protection officers (PPOs) are selected, how risk is assessed, and why security is judged only on the rare occasions it fails — not the thousands of times it works perfectly. In this episode: Why cartel “decapitations” rarely change the drug trade How VIP protection is actually allocated in the UK The role of trust between principal and protection team Princess Diana, Martin Bashir, and the collapse of protective trust John Lennon’s assassination — and what close protection would likely have identified Fixated individuals, mental health policy changes, and escalating risk Royal logistics: route planning, venue reconnaissance, and layered security The Nottingham killings and the hard questions about management and containment Charles Bronson and the parole dilemma: how do you assess “safe to release”? Recidivism, early release, and the consequences of under-resourced aftercare The Lord Advocate explained — and why Scotland’s dual-role system is under strain Key takeaway Close protection is mostly invisible. It’s preparation, prevention, and discretion. When it succeeds, nobody notices. When it fails, history remembers. Follow Crime Time Inc. on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms for insider analysis of the systems that shape crime, punishment, and public safety. You can buy the books mentioned in the podcast's by clicking the links below Tom's Best Selling Book: Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Paperback Edition Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Kindle Edition Simon's Best Selling Book: The Ten Percent Paperback Edition The Ten Percent Kindle Edition Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Hosts
Straight From the Case Files
Tom Wood
Co-Host
Former detective and bestselling author of "Ruxton: The First Modern Murder". Tom spent decades investigating Scotland's most complex cases — and brings that hard-won experience to every episode.
Simon McLean
Co-Host
A former detective whose investigations took him from Scotland to working alongside the FBI. Simon's frontline experience gives Crime Time Inc its unmatched authenticity.
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“Real highlight of the week to hear Tom and Simon talk us through lessons and insights from many decades on the force.”
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