They were taken around the time of a burglary at The Hassocks pub which police are connecting with two other break-ins at the Red Lion in Handcross and the Shepherd and Dog in Fulking.

They say the suspect may have climbed a telegraph pole to disable the CCTV camera at the front of the Hassocks Public House before dodging round to the back of the pub.

The burglar is then thought to have scaled a side wall to clamber on to the flat roof where he was able to get into the flat. He then grabbed £200 from a purse and a set of the pub's keys.

When he went downstairs towards the bar area he tripped the alarm and then made off.

The burglary on Monday, June 9 at around 4am landed the landlord with a bill for £800 to replace the locks.

Police say the three burglaries have parallels. In each case a methodical search of the living area was carried out and only cash was taken. On two of the occasions the keys to the pub were also taken and the burglar is thought to have moved or switched off the CCTV cameras in order to try to and avoid detection.

The suspect is described as being of Eastern European appearance, white, in his mid 30s, around six foot tall, thin build with a long skinny neck. He had short cropped hair and was wearing glasses.

The burglary at the Shepherd and Dog pub in Fulking took place at around 4am on Tuesday, June 17 and the Red Lion in Handcross between 9pm and 11pm on Saturday, June 7.

Anyone with any information is asked to call DC Dan Richardson, Haywards Heath CID, on 0845 60 70 999. Information can also be left anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.